A TD has called on the government to subsidise the cost of fertiliser as prices increase sharply due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Aontú TD for Mayo Paul Lawless was speaking after figures were released to him from Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon showing the rise in fertiliser costs in the last 10 years.

Using 2015 as a baseline figure of 100%, fertiliser prices in Ireland were 126.4% in 2025.

Although this is not as high as the 219.5% figure in 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the 2025 figures does not cover the increase that has occurred in the last few weeks following the outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East involving the US, Israel and Iran.

Key inputs for the production of fertiliser pass through the Straight of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, which has been closed by Iran.

Deputy Lawless commented: "We know that fertiliser costs have increased by about 60% in recent weeks. The government is predicting that inflation won't be as bad this time as it was in 2022 when fertiliser more than doubled in price.

"But even if [the government is] right, the inflation currently being experienced by farmers is not sustainable and the government needs to step up," he added.

However, Lawless acknowledged that suspending the CBAM would be a decision for the EU rather than the government here.

"The reason I think the government should step in with immediate subsidies is because I'm very concerned about a potential domino effect on prices," the TD said.

"If fertiliser goes up, then everything else goes up too, especially the cost of food and groceries," he warned.

"We have an opportunity here to nip this inflation in the bud before it reaches the supermarkets and shelves," Lawless said.

The Mayo TD said he has submitted a number of parliamentary questions on the potential cost of subsidising fertiliser.

"I am not confident the EU would suspend a carbon levy [the CBAM] at the behest of Ireland," he added.

"The government would do well to intervene now despite the cost because we'd save money in the long run if we slowed the pace or eliminated the potential of a ripple-effect inflation reaching the supermarkets," Lawless said.

He said it has written to Fianna Fáil TD Aindrias Moynihan, chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food - which Lawless is a member of - to call on the committee to invite farm contractor representatives to a meeting of the committee to discuss the increased tax on fertiliser and green diesel.

The Aontú TD also criticised the planned increase in the Carbon Tax, which is set to go ahead in May, despite the increase in fuel costs.

"The whole premise of Carbon Tax is to try to drive people away from carbon-fuels towards green options, but it is being used as a stick to beat people who have no alternatives," he said.

"Carbon Tax should not be applied to green diesel because the people who use it don't have any alternative option," Lawless said.