Bangladesh, March 30 -- Ireland's government this week moved to support people who are starting to feel the economic hit from the Iran war.

Taxes on petrol and diesel were cut and there was an extra Euro 150 benefit for around 470,000 of the poorest households.

The package came to just under Euro 250m, a modest amount compared to the estimated Euro 12bn in supports given during the last energy crisis.

Ministers were emphasising the targeted nature of the latest help while leaving the door open to more support should the situation get worse.

"To put it bluntly, nobody knows what the situation will be in a month from now," the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheal Martin said, "We must remain flexible in our response."

Martin added that I...