Irish hauliers held crisis talks at the weekend in Dublin and issued a stark warning to government that they will have no choice but to mount rolling protests blocking key arteries, routes and airports in the coming days.
The warnings come on the back of escalating fuel prices, on top of increased tolls, new charges at Dublin port and a host of other government imposed taxes and charges.
Hauliers have said the situation in the Middle East has highlighted Ireland’s dysfunctional market for fuel, where the government are taking over 65% of the price of a litre of petrol and over 60% of the price of a litre of diesel. Ireland is also one of a small number of member states in the EU that is charging a carbon tax of 18.74 cent on every litre, which will rise to 26.8 cent by 2030.
Hauliers have accused the government of profiteering on the back of hard pressed motorists, hauliers, and farmers whose livelihoods are being put at risk due to astronomical fuel prices that are rising on a daily basis.
The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) is calling for a temporary suspension of the carbon tax, a move that is legally possible, and a removal of the M50 toll for all motorists and hauliers. Hauliers added that we need a comprehensive review of how we tax fuel in Ireland and why so much of the burden of climate change measures are being heaped on just one industry, transport.
According to IRHA President, Ger Hyland, hauliers feel just as let down as farmers, builders and the general public by a government that is refusing to reduce some of the enormous windfall taxes that they are taking from motorists at the pumps.
Hyland urged the government to put on the green jersey and resolve the crisis before ministers depart for global St. Patrick’s Day celebrations adding that time is not on their side.
According to Hyland, this crisis has the potential to derail the Irish economic success story and precipitate a deeper cost of living crisis.
“When transport costs go up, groceries, clothes, building materials and everything in between goes up in price. We are on the cusp of serious and sustained protests by the transport industry in Ireland. Crippling fuel costs are just the latest escalating cost to follow higher tolls, new charges at Dublin Port and a host of other taxes and charges that this government has imposed on small business across rural Ireland. Government are asleep at the wheel and not listening to the people who put them in power.”
Hyland emphasised that hauliers will not be swayed by more empty promises. He called on motorists and the transport industry to unite and send a clear message to government.
“We are all in this together. Hauliers are the people who deliver your milk, bread, fuel and clothes. If our industry stopped for just 72 hours, supermarket shelves would empty, hospitals would struggle to operate, petrol stations would run out of fuel and small businesses nationwide would be forced to close. But this current government has set out to destroy our industry and the consequences for the economy will be catastrophic.” Hyland said
