Petrol and diesel taxes must be cut more to give people "financial reprieve" given the soaring costs of living, Independent TDs have told Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.

The group, led by Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath, claim cutting energy taxes on petrol and diesel would bring prices down below 80c per litre from its current price of nearly €2. Deputy McGrath said the "biggest driver" of soaring fuel pump prices is the Government's energy policy choices.

"Continual excessive taxes, half-baked green policies, rampant inflation - not to mention the money-printing deficits - have made everything insanely expensive," he said.

"The Government's crippling carbon tax was specifically designed to make petrol, diesel, and all available energy products progressively expensive, with the Government now collecting over 65% of the cost of every litre of fuel purchased at the pumps.

"Cutting these taxes, would see petrol and diesel slashed to below 80c per litre."

In Association with

He also said people "need a break" and called on Mr Donohoe to "take action".

"We implore the minister to make radical change, given the ongoing emergency and its drastic impact on the ordinary Irish citizen.

"This is the very least the Government can do for the Irish public. We wonder how they sleep at night," concluded Deputy McGrath. The group has written to Minister Donohoe calling for the elimination of all energy taxes until the end of 2022.

The Department of Finance was contacted for comment.