Michael Fitzmaurice: Farmers 'Insulted' by Fuel Policy
Michael Fitzmaurice warns that recent measures fail to address soaring fuel costs for farmers and rural communities, and urges immediate action on carbon tax and diesel pricing. He contrasts prices in Northern Ireland with the Republic and criticises the government's limited relief for agriculture.
Michael Fitzmaurice highlights stark fuel price differences: a litre of white diesel in Northern Ireland is 1.85 euro, 40 cent less than in the Republic. He points out that 500 litres of caro can mean a 200 euro difference, and green diesel (red in the north) is also substantially cheaper across the border.
Fitzmaurice says the measures announced for hauliers and the excise reduction are welcome, but stresses agriculture has been overlooked. He calls the treatment of the agri-contractor sector and farmers an insult and reminds viewers that food production relies on tractors and diesel across the country.
He criticises the refusal to touch the carbon tax now, despite a European call to ease energy costs. Fitzmaurice argues that current policy effectively takes more money from field work than the driver earns, and warns that planned small reductions are inadequate for rural households who rely on caro and turf.
Fitzmaurice urges the government to prioritise rural Ireland and agricultural needs when designing relief measures, to close the north-south price gap and to reconsider carbon tax treatment for fuel used in farming. He frames the issue as a matter of fairness for communities that keep the country fed.
Price gap between North and South
Michael Fitzmaurice highlights stark fuel price differences: a litre of white diesel in Northern Ireland is 1.85 euro, 40 cent less than in the Republic. He points out that 500 litres of caro can mean a 200 euro difference, and green diesel (red in the north) is also substantially cheaper across the border.
Impact on agriculture
Fitzmaurice says the measures announced for hauliers and the excise reduction are welcome, but stresses agriculture has been overlooked. He calls the treatment of the agri-contractor sector and farmers an insult and reminds viewers that food production relies on tractors and diesel across the country.
Carbon tax and government choices
He criticises the refusal to touch the carbon tax now, despite a European call to ease energy costs. Fitzmaurice argues that current policy effectively takes more money from field work than the driver earns, and warns that planned small reductions are inadequate for rural households who rely on caro and turf.
What he demands
Fitzmaurice urges the government to prioritise rural Ireland and agricultural needs when designing relief measures, to close the north-south price gap and to reconsider carbon tax treatment for fuel used in farming. He frames the issue as a matter of fairness for communities that keep the country fed.
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Transcript
I want to, first of all, I welcome some of the measures that came in, but there's a reality here and the Tánaiste spoke about Northern Ireland earlier on, those people aren't bleeding as hard as the people here. The facts are tonight, a litre of white diesel in the north is 1.85 in euro, 40 cent less than here. 500 litres of caro is 200 euro of a difference. Green diesel, it's red in the north, is 200 euro cheaper in the north. So let us concentrate on our own game. I welcome what's been done for hauliers, I welcome the excise reduction, but what have you done for agriculture? Do you not realise that food is produced with tractors right around this country? For the agri-contractor sector and for the farmers, it's an insult. It's an absolute insult what farmers have to pay. And do you realise that most people in rural Ireland, if they happen to turf fire, they use caro, and caro was never as dear, and what's done for them? Five measly cents going to be taken off between tomorrow and today. It's absolutely disgusting to see the way that the agricultural sector has been treated. And then to hear rural TDs talking that you couldn't do anything with the carbon tax. How is it we can bring in legislation tomorrow for Nora? I've looked up through Europe tonight. There is a difference in carbon taxes through every bit of Europe. Europe has told governments to ease the energy costs for everyone. Europe gave that clear mandate last week to all leaders. But no, we won't touch the carbon tax, and the first of May we'll look at it again and add two more cents. Do you not realise that a tractor today that's within agitating or ploughing or whatever it's at, the government gets more than the driver. The government ends up with 16 euro per hour into their paws and they're not in the field. It's time that you wake up and look at what's going on.