Danny Healy-Rae told the Minister in the Dáil to reduce the tax charged at the pump and on home heating oil, arguing that rising fuel costs are forcing people into hardship. He cited reports that an extra 40 million a week is being taken in taxes and urged that amount be returned directly at the pump where people pay.
The demand
Danny Healy-Rae pressed the Minister to cut the duty charged per litre at fuel stations and on home heating oil. He argued that targeted measures are not enough and that returning the extra tax at the pump would immediately ease pressure on motorists and households.
Who is affected
He named those most impacted: people driving to work, parents collecting schoolchildren, lorry and truck drivers delivering essential services, and farmers using tractors and green diesel. He warned many are 'going under every day' under current costs.
The numbers cited
Healy-Rae pointed to reports that government receipts have risen by 40 million a week in fuel-related taxes and called for that amount to be passed back to consumers at the point of sale. He emphasised that the change would cost nothing to the State if it simply reduced the price at the pump by the extra tax take.
Immediate appeal to the Minister
Throughout the address he repeatedly urged swift action: reduce the per-litre charge now and do not burden households further, especially those buying home heating oil. He told the Minister the sooner it is done the better, noting the urgency of people struggling daily with fuel costs.
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Thank you very much Cathaoirleach. Minister, what I'm asking you to do, and the sooner you do it the better, because people are going under every day now with the cost of fuel on the road. Any man or woman, like I said already, with a wheel or an engine, is being hit very hard at the present time. It is reported that they are taking in 40 million a week more in taxes. And I'm asking you to give this back. Minister Jim O'Callaghan said today to be given back in targeted measures. I'm asking you to give it back at the pump where the people are paying for it. And reduce the amount to be charged at the pump by the amount of taxes that you're getting in, the extra taxes. And it will cost you nothing, but I'm asking please not to charge the people on the road, the people that are dipping in home heating oil, do not charge them any more than they've been charged already. Because they've been charged enough taxes. I'm asking you to give it back by reducing the amount of the cost per litre at the pump and at the home heating oil in the door. Because people, like I said, people that are going to work, people with cars, picking up school children, people with lorries, trucks, that are on the road going hard every day delivering services and whatever, and farmers with tractors and using green diesel, they are being hit doubly because it's gone from 112 up to 168 and 170 for green diesel and home heating oil. I'm asking you, it is very easy to do it, give it back at the pumps where you take it from. And please do it Minister, the sooner you do it the better. Because, as I said, people are going under every minute or they can't stick to pressure.
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