Mr Martin said the conflict will have a range of impacts, including increased inflation and higher costs for products derived from oil, such as fertiliser, plastics and helium used in semiconductors. Cumulatively, all of those will have impact,” Mr Martin told Newstalk Breakfast. “Hauliers are key to trade, hauliers are key to getting food on our shelves and so on like that. Mr Martin added: “We took specific measures in terms of enabling pharmaceuticals, enabling all of that. Acknowledging the economic pain caused by the conflict, Mr Trump blamed a “short-term” rise in gas prices on Iran’s actions and insisted the US had become energy independent.

Source: Irish Examiner April 02, 2026 13:11 UTC