Independent TD for Laois Offaly, Carol Nolan, has welcomed the excise cut but says it is a “drop in the ocean” for commuters, hauliers and farmers.
She believes that the government does not seem to “fully appreciate” the scale of the fuel and energy crisis facing the public, road haulage and agriculture sectors.
As reported by That’s Farming, the government has agreed to the following:
- 15c cut in excise duty for diesel;
- 20c cut in excise for petrol;
- 2c cut in excise for green diesel.
Excise cut
According to Nolan, the Taoiseach confirmed to the Dáil that Ireland was bound by EU regulations to limit the excise duty cuts to these amounts.
Commenting on the latest developments, Deputy Nolan said:
“I have never seen the levels of fear and genuine alarm that is currently out there among hauliers, agricultural contractors and the public who have no other option but to use their cars for work or travelling to third level or childcare.”
“In fact, the 2c cut in excise for green diesel is being taken by farmers as the clearest sign yet that government are utterly clueless about the scale of what needs to be done if food security in this state is to be maintained.”
“To a man and a woman, the hauliers are telling me that they will have no option but to keep their vehicles off the road if radical measures are not taken.”
“Indeed, there is concern among some of the hauliers I have been in contact with that fuel will be hitting €2.50/L by the end of the week. That is a completely destabilising level of increase that will cause paralysis in the sector.”
Carbon tax
She believes the government, at the very minimum, must immediately reverse the decision to increase the carbon tax.
Furthermore, she believes it must also reverse the proposed carbon tax increase on home heating oil that will come into effect in May.
“There is nothing in EU law, as far as I am aware, that is preventing Government from doing that. It is entirely a political decision.”
She warned that the country would “come to a shuddering halt very quickly” if the government does not examine the fuel rebate scheme for hauliers and the transportation sector.
She said the same would occur if the agri-sector cannot get relief in terms of a support package to purchase fuel.
