Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Claire Kerrane TD, has stated that Government should not proceed with their plans for three separate tax hikes on fuel this year.
Going ahead with the planned tax rises – which will apply to marked gas oil (green diesel) in addition to petrol and diesel – would see family farmers face additional price hikes on fuel when they are already experiencing high input costs.
Speaking today, Teachta Kerrane said:
“Many farmers are already facing soaring input costs and can little afford additional price hikes when it comes to green diesel.
“Despite this, Government is currently planning to go ahead with three tax hikes on petrol, diesel and green diesel this year. The first of these increases is scheduled to go ahead of 1st April.
“The planned increases would also affect families living in rural areas, who rely on their cars to travel to work and indeed for all trips that they take.
“Fuel prices have risen by more than 30 percent in the past three years. Making petrol, diesel and green diesel even more expensive at this time is the wrong call.
“Sinn Féin is calling on the government not to go ahead with their planned tax hikes on fuel this year. This is something my colleague Pearse Doherty TD has called for, and we included a provision in our Alternative Budget which would avoid tax increases on petrol, diesel and green diesel.
“The Government continues to say they want to support family farmers and those living in rural communities, but hiking up fuel prices at this time flies in the face of that.
“They must show flexibility and understanding of the challenges so many farmers and those living in rural communities are facing with regard to costs by cancelling the planned tax increases on fuel.”
