A Clare Government TD is confident emergency fuel supports announced last night will be constantly reviewed to ensure they’re fit for purpose for the agriculture and haulage sector.
It follows six days of protest blockades at motorways in Clare and across the country as well as at ports, and at the country’s only oil refinery in opposition to rising fuel costs.
The €505 million package, which comes into effect at midnight on Tuesday subject to Dáil approval, will bring the total level of government fuel supports announced since the end of March to €750m.
The latest measures include a further 10c cut to excise duty per litre on Petrol and Diesel, a 2.5 cent cut for Green Diesel.
There will also be a new Haulage and Coach Support Scheme which will see payments backdated to March and separate targeted supports for coach operators running school and local link services.
Opposition parties are set to table a no confidence motion in the Government tomorrow with Sinn Féin stating the measures don’t go far enough and that the coalition “has failed to take responsibility for a crisis they’ve allowed to spiral out of control.
Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Cooney however insists the state does recognise the “crazy costs” facing contractors and that supports will be constantly reviewed to ensure they work.
Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD, meanwhile, is calling for a spokesperson representing the protestors to be included in discussions with the Government going forward.
Ministers refused to enter negotiations with protest representatives last week, with the Taoiseach stating the leaders had a “self declared mandate”, with further criticism going towards the illegal blockades of roads, ports and critical infrastructure.
Many protestors expressed the view, however, that they didn’t feel represented by the IFA, ICMSA, IRHA and other lobby organisations engaged in talks.
Meelick Deputy Cathal Crowe says demonstrators must be brought to the table to ensure workable solutions.
Listen to the full interview here
