A row back on the carbon tax is required in the upcoming budget announcement, according to independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice.
Speaking ahead of Budget 2022, which will be revealed next Tuesday, Fitzmaurice noted that plans should not go ahead to increase the carbon tax by another €7.50 from its current base of €33.50 per tonne.
Commenting on the matter, he added: “We need to row back on the carbon tax, otherwise we will be pushing more and more people towards fuel poverty; not to mention the other knock-on effects.
“When you go to fill your car with diesel, the price is already at approximately €1.50 per liter. At the beginning of the year, it was 30 cents cheaper. During the summer of 2020, it was 35 cents cheaper.
“As it stands, we are almost on a par with prices not seen since 2012 or 2013. And if further increases arise as a result of a jump in the carbon tax, then a new record will be set for the price of diesel in this country.”
Turning to agriculture, the Roscommon-Galway TD noted: “When you look at green diesel, it has more than doubled in price in the past 12 to 18 months. It currently stands at in excess of 80 cents per liter at the pumps.
“Agricultural contractors have voiced their concerns that the excise duty differential between green diesel and normal diesel could be removed in Budget 2022 – meaning a potential jump in price of green diesel of 50 cents per liter.
“People in urban areas may feel that this shouldn’t worry them. But all of these additional costs will have to be passed on to someone.
“It will mean that the price of labour will increase and the price of food will have to increase to ensure a viable living for farm families.”
Concluding, Fitzmaurice said: “Further increasing the carbon tax will have a crippling impact on people trying to live and work in rural Ireland; we need to row back on it in the next budget, not increase it.”
For further information contact Michael Fitzmaurice at 086-1914565