Danny Healy-Rae: Urgent Call to Raise Diesel Rebate to 15-16c
Danny Healy-Rae urged immediate action on rising fuel costs, citing hundreds of lorry drivers gathered outside Marion Street and demanding an increase in the diesel rebate. He called for the diesel rebate to be raised from 7.5 cents to 15 or 16 cents and pressed the government to reduce the tax take on fuel.
On-the-ground pressure
There are hundreds of lorries and drivers outside at Marion Street today, the speaker said, with drivers in severe difficulty who "can't carry on for much longer." He warned that the situation on the ground requires urgent attention.
Fuel price rise and tax impact
The speaker noted that diesel was 1.15 a litre on the same day last year and is now 1.60 a litre, an increase of 33%. He pointed out that 2% of taxes on a litre at 1.60 yields way more than when it was 1.15 last year, and added that 13.5% is applied on top of the carbon tax and other levies.
Rebate demand
He asked explicitly for the diesel rebate to be increased from 7.5 cents up to 15 or 16 cents, saying other countries have acted and referencing measures in the United States under President Biden as precedent. The speaker emphasised that similar relief should be provided domestically for affected drivers.
Warning on supplies
He warned that without action "there will be no food on the shelves," stressing the broader consequences of sustained high fuel costs for supply chains and food availability.
Government response
In reply, the minister acknowledged a global, massive increase in energy and fuel prices and said there is limited room for manoeuvre. The minister noted the rebate scheme has already been increased and that the increase was maintained for 2022, and said the department is engaging with official industry representatives on related issues.
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There are hundreds of lorries and drivers outside at the Marion Street in today. Surely you're not oblivious to what's going on and the trouble that they're in. You must realise that they can't carry on for much longer. This day, last year, diesel and fuel was 1.15 a litre. Today it's plus 1.60 for the same. The increase is 33%. They are not able to carry that tissue. And, you see, 2% of taxes on a litre at 1.60 yields way more than when it was 1.15 last year. I'm asking you to do something about the tax take that you're taking. Even there's 13.5% applied on top of the carbon tax and everything else. You see, just as one other part, the rebate, I'm asking you to increase the diesel rebate from 7.5 cents up to 15 or 16. They are doing it in other countries. And, Biden is doing something in America. We must do something here for those fellows because there will be no food on the shelves. And you have to realise that that's going to happen. We are reaching into the time for the reply. Well, first of all, I accept and I said already that there is globally a massive increase in energy prices and fuel prices across Europe and across the world. We don't have much room for manoeuvring that at all, as has been suggested. Factually, that is the position. I think we all need to deal with facts on that. On the rebate scheme, I take your point on the rebate scheme. There's always potential around the rebate scheme. It already has been increased, as you know, and that increase was maintained for 2022. And there are other issues pertaining to the industry that we, in the department in particular, is engaging with the industry, the official representatives of the industry, in respect of those issues. In far from theITCHES No. The MARIA The Thank you.
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