Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty, has claimed the latest increase to carbon taxes on petrol and diesel will pose a threat to forecourts along the Donegal border.
These increases take effect from today.
The Donegal TD warned that the government’s plan will also do real damage to hard-pressed households.
“The government is about to make Ireland the most expensive place to buy diesel and one of the most expensive places to buy petrol in the EU,” Deputy Doherty said.
“The cost-of-living crisis is not over. It is completely unacceptable for the government to be heaping more pressure on workers and families.
“The tax rise will add 2.1c to a litre of petrol, and 2.5c for diesel. These small increases add up. And put real pressure on households.
Deputy Doherty said he raised the issue ‘again and again’ with the government and Minister for Finance.
“But, it is clear that my calls have fallen on deaf ears and an out-of-touch government,” he added.
“This is not a climate measure, it is a punitive, regressive tax that punishes people that need to drive to work or drop their kids to school.”
Sinn Féin’s alternative budget, he claimed, outlined how the government could stop and reverse recent carbon tax increases.
“Even now, the government can do the right thing and not increase taxes on petrol and diesel,” he said.
“It is time for the government to stop punishing households and threatening the trade and viability of businesses in the border region. The government must scrap its planned price hikes on petrol and diesel.”
