Watch: Govt fuel measures ‘totally unfair’ – Healy-Rae
Independent TD Danny Healy Rae has welcomed the government’s new measures to combat fuel prices, but added that some elements of the package are “totally unfair”.
During a Dáil Éireann debate yesterday (Tuesday, March 24), Deputy Healy-Rae said that he welcomes “the package of €235 million”.
He said: “I am thankful for the reduction in white diesel for hauliers and the promised rebate that is to come.
“I also welcome the petrol reduction for all of those who are working hard and need their car to go to work.”
However, he added: “I deplore the fact that people who need heating oil only get a reduction of 2c/L, which is only €20 for a fill of a 1,000L tank.
"That is very hard.”
The government yesterday (Tuesday, March 24) announced cuts to mineral oil tax (MOT) for petrol, diesel and green diesel and a cut to the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) levy.
The measures took effect from midnight and will remain in effect until May 31.
Deputy Healy Rae said: “I welcome the extension of the fuel allowance, but many people are not on the fuel allowance.
“Many hauliers have a haulier’s licence and operate that way, but there are other hauliers who do not have a haulier’s licence and do not have to have it, but who supply their own products.
“Agricultural lorries transporting cattle will not get the diesel rebate either. I am hurting for those people.”
Green diesel
Deputy Healy Rae went on to discuss green diesel.
He said: “Regarding green diesel for the tractor men, as the ministers know, no tractor has gone inside a gap for the last three months, and now is the time that they are making a start.
“Because of the weather conditions, they could not do a bit until now, and there is a lot of work waiting.
“To offer them 2c or 3c of a reduction (per litre) is totally unfair.”
He added: “I was brought up to believe that we should treat everyone fairly.
“Whatever way the government could have got around that, it should have done something better for the tractor people.
“I include in that the industrial workers and fishermen.”
He added: “Those with any type of engine that uses green diesel are paying up to €1.68/L when it was 98c three weeks ago.
“That is an awful jump of 70c/L.”
Deputy Healy-Rae then turning to the issue of rising costs.
The TD added that the cost of electricity “has gone up day by day since the government closed Bord na Móna”.
He said: “This war might continue, and no one in here or outside can say it will or will not.
“I am asking the government to review the rules it has made on turf cutting and ensure that people who have the facility, have a bog and can cut turf are allowed to cut it, whether it is to sell it or use it themselves.
“That has to be reviewed because of the cost of electricity. We may not have electricity.”
He also said that he is “hurting because of the fact that there was no bother two or three weeks ago with Ireland supporting a loan of €1.8 billion to keep the war in Ukraine going, yet we cannot find enough money anywhere to help the tractor men who are using green diesel”.
