The Government has been urged by Independent Ireland to “immediately abolish” looming increases in the carbon tax. 

The carbon tax on petrol and diesel is €71 per tonne of carbon dioxide emitted, with a rate of €63.50 per tonne for other fuels. Revenue from the tax is ringfenced to fund SEAI grants and the Fuel Allowance. 

An scheduled increase in May was delayed until October as part of a package of measures to cut the cost of living. 

On The Claire Byrne Show, Cork South West TD Michael Collins said the delay was announced “at a very late stage” to placate fuel protestors. 

“It took the protest to get to wake up to understand the crisis that people are in,” he argued. 

“But there certainly is more movement here, like they must immediately abolish any more increases in carbon tax because people are under massive pressure.

“The carbon tax, it hits everybody because if the fuel goes up in relation to the haulier or goes up in relation to the farmer, it hits the ordinary householder when they're buying their shopping.”

The Independent Ireland TD continued that there is enough revenue to fund public services and delay tax increase to help those struggling with the cost of living. 

“Government is looking like it has a surplus of €9.2 billion this year,” he said. 

“That needs to be fed back into the people with some kind of relief.

“The Government made €85 million available for fuel support for farmers and agricultural contractors and only €26 million of that has only been spent to date.

“Families are struggling and the Government must recognise that.”

Fuel protests. Picture by: RollingNews.ie. 

Deputy Collins continued that if Budget 2027 fails to address cost of living pressures, further fuel protests could take place. 

He plans to attend a meeting with workers in Moate, County Westmeath to discuss the issue. 

“They're calling a public meeting next week, most of them are agricultural contractors, hauliers that know that they are in a crisis situation and they're on their knees,” he said. 

“From that meeting will come requests for moves to be made; I hope that they give the chance for the budget to make those moves. 

“That's where we'll be; I'll be listening very, very carefully as to the demands from that meeting.

“And I'd be relaying that to the other end, like we did before and we weren't listening, but eventually the Government set up and listened.”

Main image: Michael Collins. Picture by: Alamy.com.