Fuel and cost of living crises form basis of Flynn proposal

The current cost-of-living and fuel price hikes inspired Ballybay/Clones Municipal District (MD) to call on government to act now in easing pressure on local households.

Cathaoirleach Sinéad Flynn proposal at Monday’s meeting urged the Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, and the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien, to scrap the planned increase in Carbon Tax, and also reduce excise on petrol, diesel and home heating oil. It further urged the government to introduce an emergency cost-of-living support package for households.

Seconded by Sinn Féin’s Pat Treanor, the motion was unanimously agreed.

“Everyone is very aware of the cost of living crisis and the fuel crisis, with increases of 25 cent per litre reported, with suppliers warning of a further rise,” the Cathaoirleach noted. “These price hikes are hitting rural communities even harder because of their need to rely on cars.”

Local fuel merchants had limited capacity for storage and had to pass the fuel price rises onto customers, she observed, adding that a large percentage of the cost is swallowed by taxes and levies.

A Carbon Tax hike is planned for May.

“It’s way too much for rural communities like our own. We need action now. I propose that we write to Government asking it to scrap the carbon tax hike in May and introduce an emergency support package,” Cllr Flynn stated.

Cllr Treanor said: “People are at the pin of their collar, we need to stand up for them. There are huge price hikes in petrol and all kinds of excuses are being made, such as oil shortages.

“It is within the Government’s control not to go ahead with the carbon tax hikes and address others concerning fuel, petrol and diesel. People in rural counties like Monaghan can’t survive without transport.”

He also observed that once growing season gets underway, rising fuel costs would mean food production get more expensive too.

Fine Gael’s Séan Gilliland supported the motion. He said everyone was impacted by rising fuel costs, and small operators had to pass on increases to customers to refill tanks next time round.

“There is more profit on €20k in coffee sales, than €200k on fuel sales,” he asserted. “Shell and Texaco have boats and storage; the issue lies there. They are multi-billion-dollar companies. They are private industries so we’re not going to get any change,” the Fine Gael representative commented.

Cllr Gilliland made the point that Government had to be mindful that any relief is targeted to deal with the price increase so as not to spark an unintended further increase in inflation elsewhere.

He meanwhile spared a thought for agri-contractors, who have had to contend with bad weather and would now have to deal with the fuel crisis. Many did not have storage facilities and often refuelled while working.