Call to scrap plans to hike fuel prices

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Development, Martin Kenny, has urged government to scrap plans to increase excise duty on August 1. This increase – the second in three months – will see petrol rise by 4c per litre and diesel rise by 3c per litre.

Deputy Kenny said: “Hard-pressed workers and families are due to face another fuel price hike. This increase is being imposed on them by the government. Sinn Féin are clear that it must not go ahead.

“We are in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, yet this government are happy to sit back and watch as another excise duty increase hits workers and families.

He said the government has introduced a hike in April that saw petrol rise by 4c per litre, and a 3c per litre rise in diesel: “In the space of barely three months, that means motorists have seen their fuel increase by 8c and 6c per litre respectively.

“To expect people to take these increases on the chin just shows how out of touch this government is with workers and families who are doing their best, but are already struggling under a cost of living crisis that shows no signs of slowing down.”

Deputy Kenny concluded by saying: “I am urging government to scrap their plans to impose these hikes, before they begin to hit workers’ wallets from midnight tomorrow.”