THE GOVERNMENT HAS said it has not issued a leaflet telling people to cut down on driving because of the war in Iran, after a hoax graphic making the claim went viral in recent days.

Although some countries have introduced measures and requests for citizens to conserve energy during the crisis, the viral leaflet is nothing to do with the government.

The graphic, which circulated on social media, says “Hands off the keys. Face The Shortage. Space Your Journeys” and urges people to drive less, saying that “the war in Iran means no more Sunday drives”.

It features the government’s official harp logo and small text at the bottom that says “Government of Ireland”.

One version of the graphic posted to social media also featured the Dublin City Council logo, with a user on X claiming it was attached to their car after they were clamped in the south of the city.

The hoax leaflet, which features the government's harp logo

However, a spokesperson for the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment told The Journal that the graphic is not part of a government campaign.

“There is no such government campaign currently underway,” they said.

The spokesperson also said that it is expected minister Darragh O’Brien will establish a public information campaign as the National Energy Affordability Taskforce discusses additional measures over rising energy prices.

It’s expected the campaign will raise awareness of government supports and the promotion of energy efficiency measures, and will encourage households and businesses to switch to better-value energy plans to reduce costs.

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council also confirmed that the local authority had no involvement in a campaign involving leaflets encouraging people to drive less.

The leaflet circulated before the European Union’s Energy commissioner said today that Europeans should work from home and drive less to save fuel amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Dan Jorgensen said the fuel crisis “will not be short” and the situation “will not go back to normal in the foreseeable future”.

“Even if there was peace tomorrow, there would still be consequences, because energy infrastructure in the region has been ruined by the war, and continuously is being ruined by the war,” he said.

“The more you can do to save oil, especially diesel, especially jet fuel, the better we are off,” he said,