A Laois TD says that the planned cut in excise duty by the government will ‘not go far enough’ to help with rising fuel prices.
Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley has called for an immediate cut in excise duty on petrol and diesel that he says would reduce prices at the pump by 25 cents per litre overnight.
He has also called for excise duty to be removed entirely from home heating oil.
Teachta Stanley said the measures announced by government do not go far enough to alleviate the crisis facing workers, families and businesses up and down the country.
Deputy Stanley said: “People in rural areas are carrying an exceptionally high burden at the moment and of particular concern is the failure of the Government to bring in any reduction in excise on home heating oil.
“We all know the causes of these price spikes; fuelled by the brutal invasion of Ukraine. The Government can and must further act to reduce prices at the pump.
“That is why Sinn Féin are calling on the Government to immediately reduce the cost of petrol and diesel by 25 cents per litre through a reduction in excise duty.
“As prices at the pump go over €2 per litre, this would bring the price down to €1.75 cents per litre overnight. Excise duty should be reduced further in line with further price rises.
“Similarly, we are calling on the government to immediately reduce excise duty to zero on home heating oil.
“A third of Irish households heat their homes with oil and these workers and families have seen the price almost double since the start of the year.
“Removing excise duty from home heating oil would save a household nearly €100 for 1,000 litres of home heating oil.”
Deputy Stanley once again called on the government not to increase Carbon Tax as planned in May.
He said: “The Governments plans to further hike up Carbon Taxes in May need to be halted.
“The Government could introduce these measures and slash prices tonight through a Financial Resolution.
“That is precisely what we are calling for them to do. This is not a time for dithering or delay – it is a time for action.
“The government must take action now, introduce these measures which Sinn Féin are proposing, and cut the cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil immediately.”
Independent TD Carol Nolan has said that Government does not seem to fully appreciate the scale of the fuel and energy crisis facing the public, as well as the road haulage and agriculture sectors.
Deputy Nolan was speaking after the Taoiseach Micheál Martin appeared to rule out increasing the proposed 15c cut in excise duty for diesel, the 20c cut in excise for petrol and the 2c cut in excise for green diesel that is due to come into effect at midnight tonight.
The Taoiseach also 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 famers 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 per litre by the end of the week. That is a completely destabilising level of increase that will cause paralysis in the sector.”
“Government, at the very minimum must immediately reverse the decision to increase the carbon tax taken in Budget 2022 and the proposed carbon tax increase on home heating oil that is due to 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.”
“If the fuel rebate scheme is not re-examined for hauliers and the transportation sector and if the agri-sector cannot get relief in terms of a support package for the purchase of fuel then this country is going to come to a shuddering halt very quickly.”
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