An Ennis Haulier is calling on the Minister for Finance to urgently introduce a fuel rebate for truck drivers.
Minister Paschal Donohoe has confirmed he’ll ask EU leaders to be more flexible on VAT rates for fuel.
A cut to excise came into effect this week to reduce the price of diesel reduce by 15 cent, and petrol by 20 cent per litre.
However, the measure was immediately eroded as the prices on Thursday morning climbed to their highest level yet.
Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty has accused filling stations of ‘price gouging at a time of crisis’.
These Clare people say they aren’t feeling the impact of any VAT reduction at the pumps.
18 million euro in emergency support is being provided to hauliers.
A temporary grant scheme is being set up which will provide 100 euro per week for heavy goods vehicles over a certain weight.
The scheme will operate for a period of eight weeks and will then be reviewed.
Announcing the move, Minister Eamon Ryan said the haulage sector is critically important to Ireland national and international supply chains.
Former President of the IRHA and Ennis Haulier, Eoin Gavin, says truck drivers are crippled by the rising costs.
The Chair of the Clare Beef Plan Group is echoing calls for a fuel rebate.
Quilty farmer Joseph Woulfe says Ireland is excessively taxing petrol and diesel.
The Finance Minister says he’ll be asking EU leaders to be more flexible on VAT rates for fuel.
A rate of 23 per cent currently applies on petrol and diesel – with calls for the government to go further than its cut to excise duty.
The heads of the 27 EU countries are meeting in Versailles in France today to discuss the bloc’s reliance on Russian energy.
Finance Minister and Eurogroup President, Paschal Donohoe, says changing VAT rules on fuel is also on the agenda.
