Has the Government’s strategy to keep fuel costs down proved to be ‘knee-jerk’ and difficult to reverse?

First up on this episode of Inside Business, the issue of fuel costs after the Dáil voted to postpone the restoration of fuel excise duty last Friday.

Did they wilt in the face of more potential protests?

What is the cumulative impact of taxes, levies, regulations and other fuel-related charges on the cost of transport and home-heating fuels?

And with the budget around the corner, should any changes to carbon tax consider both fuel affordability and the climate programmes funded by it?

For more on this, host Cliff Taylor was joined in studio by Kevin McPartlan, CEO of Fuels for Ireland.

Also in this episode, we look at the spread of digital tipping terminals that prompt customers to leave gratuities for basic counter service.

Should you tip on a coffee-and-pastry purchase? What about a takeaway?

And is tipping becoming expected rather than voluntary?

Irish Times Consumer Correspondent Conor Pope has been writing about this, and he joined Cliff to give his thoughts.

Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound.