Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty has called on the Minister for Finance to cancel his government’s plans for further tax hikes on petrol and diesel this year.
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance was speaking as the price of petrol and diesel rose sharply this month, with fears prices could reach €2 per litre.
Retailers along the Donegal border have also expressed concerns that motorists could go North to fill their tanks if prices continue to rise.
“The AA announced that petrol and diesel prices rose sharply this month, with fears the cost of fuel could soon rise to €2 per litre,” Deputy Doherty said.
“At the beginning of April, the government hiked the price of fuel for households and plans to do the same again in August and October.
“If the government presses ahead with these tax hikes, Irish households will face among the highest fuel prices in Europe. Petrol prices will have risen by at least 10 cent per litre, with diesel prices set to rise by at least 8 cents per litre.”
He also expressed concerns for retailers along the border.
“As the gap between fuel prices North and South continue to widen, the very viability of businesses and petrol stations in border counties will be under threat, with petrol set to be 20 cent per litre and diesel set to be 7 cent per litre more expensive in the South compared to the North,” he explained.
“It is time for the government to heed Sinn Féin’s call and scrap their planned tax hikes on petrol and diesel this year.”
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