The Government will make a decision before the Dáil recess in mid-July about cuts to excise duty on petrol and diesel, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has said.He signalled a possible graduated response to ensure no “immediate cliff-edge” at the end of July when the excise cut of 32c a litre in diesel and 27c for petrol are due to finish.The tax charged on motor fuel was reduced through Government actions in March and April in response to supply instability through the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war. Stressing the Government “will make the decision in the coming days”, he said, “this Oireachtas has approximately three weeks left and these decisions will be made in plenty of time to provide that clarity”.Harris acknowledged people could not absorb “the full 32c” but said “I cannot ignore the fact that the price of oil is now falling. I cannot ignore the fact that the Strait of Hormuz is currently open.“I cannot ignore the costs – that on the way in today I saw the cost of diesel is now below the cost of petrol. The situation is different factually to when we brought in the original package and we need to work our way through that in the coming days.”He was responding in the Dáil during finance questions to Sinn Féin spokesman Pearse Doherty and Fianna Fáil TD John Connolly.Doherty said, “people are aghast at the idea that in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis prices would rise again”. “In some cases, prices will go up to €2 per litre, given where they are at the moment," he said.He said “people need a bit of clarity”, expressing concern the Finance Bill which gave effect to the cuts was still going through the Oireachtas and would mean the full excise duty coming into effect on August 1st.The Tánaiste told him “let’s not worry people unnecessarily”. He said the legislation is required to underpin the reduction. “That is what it is doing – no more, no less.”Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris. Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins Photos [ Ireland’s new saving and investment scheme: Influencers enlisted to explain schemeOpens in new window ]The Sinn Féin spokesman said businesses including hauliers “have to plan” and are “wondering about the contracts and commitments” they are entering into. “They are thinking that because the cost of diesel is going up, prices must go up. There are contractors, construction workers, who are taking on jobs and do not know what the price will be.” Harris accused him of “riling everybody up, worrying them and trying to encourage protest again”. He said “angry Pearse is not going to work any more. We’re going to take a rounded, informed decision based on the evidence available to us as to what the most appropriate thing is.”[ Whatever Simon Harris says, we are far from a ‘blueprint’ for a united IrelandOpens in new window ]