Aontú TD for Mayo, Paul Lawless, has said that the proposed increases in excise duties and carbon taxes over the coming months and weeks will “push people into extreme poverty” if they are not reversed.
Speaking today, Deputy Lawless said: “This government is behaving recklessly in terms of their plans to restore fuel taxation. Until this fuel crisis happened about half of what we were paying at the pumps was going directly to the government. Despite the reductions in certain taxes and levies the government is still on track to take in hundreds of millions more in VAT on fuel this year than last year, and hundreds of millions extra in carbon tax when compared to last year. They can well afford to defer the planned increases further to ease pressure on families, businesses and commuters”.
Deputy Lawless continued: “The government wants to add in excess of 30 cents per litre to the price of fuel at the pumps with hikes planned in excise, the NORA Levy and Carbon Tax for 1st September, 1st October, budget day, 14th October, 1st November and 1st December. Based on the current baseline prices, we would be looking at petrol selling for €2.03 and diesel for €2.12 when you wake up and fill your car on the 15th of October. If the current baseline prices remain static, then on 2nd December 2026 a litre of petrol will cost €2.13 and Diesel €2.26. This is unconscionable”.
“The situation in terms of the cost of fuel is worse today that it was when the government deemed these measures necessary in the first place. If they were necessary back in March and April they are more than necessary today. The rapid pace of the government’s restoration of excise duties and taxes will cripple people. It has the potential to have a ripple inflationary effect across society – the cost of groceries, cost of delivery services, food, etc could all spike in tandem with the fuel hikes. This government is a wealthy government which for years has taken about 50% of what you pay at the pumps in taxes. We pay high taxes in this country, and in return we should expect that in times of need the government helps us or eases our burden. The fact that this is all being planned behind closed doors while the Dáil is on holidays is disgraceful – we in Aontú believe the Dáil should be recalled so we can have a proper debate about this before the increases come into effect”, concluded Lawless.
