Gardaí have recovered a stolen tractor following a burglary in west Cork on Wednesday, March 24th, 2021.
The agricultural vehicle was located some 400kms away from the location where it was reported stolen.
Gardaí recover stolen tractor
Confirming the news to That’s Farming, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána, said:
“On the morning of March 24, Gardaí in Bantry received a report that a vintage tractor had been stolen from a shed on land in Schull.”
“Gardaí from Schull and the Bantry District Detective Unit attended the scene and began an investigation.”
“Following their initial enquiries, Gardaí located the tractor in Carrick-On-Shannon on March 26, 2021, some 400 kilometres away from the location where it was reported stolen.”
The stolen tractor has since been returned to the owner.
No arrests have been made but Gardaí are following a definite line of enquiry.
Gardaí thanked the public for their assistance in this matter.
Carbon tax
In other news, Tipperary-based Sinn Féin TD, Martin Browne, has asked the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, for his views on “farmers having to pay carbon tax while fishing boat operators do not have to do so”.
He also called on the minister to express his views on “this discrepancy given the technologically advanced tractors and other machinery farmers are investing in”. The TD raised the parliamentary question last week.
Minister Donohoe said that Ireland has based its excise duty treatment of fuel used for motor and heating purposes on European Union law.
This is set out in Directive 2003/96/EC on the taxation of energy products and electricity, commonly known as the Energy Tax Directive.
“I am taking it that the Deputy, in referring to ‘carbon tax’, is enquiring about the application of MOT to agricultural purposes compared to the exemption from MOT that applies in the case of fuel used for fishing boat operators.”
“The main agriculture exposure to excise duty comes from the fuel inputs primarily through the use of marked gas oil, which is currently subject to a rate of MOT of 11.8c/L. This compares to the current full rate of MOT for auto diesel used as a propellant of 51.5c/L.”
“I also note that when my predecessor increased carbon tax in Budget 2012, he made provision for a double income tax relief for farmers to compensate for the increase. This relief continues to apply.”
He said that individuals and companies that carry on a trade of farming are entitled to claim an income tax or corporation tax deduction regarding farm diesel.
