Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Here are the facts, which are as logical as the Minister wants them to be. On 9 March 2022, the income derived by the Government from mineral oil tax on agricultural diesel amounted to €138.17. The Government made a measure on 10 March that reduced that to €120.55. On 1 May, the Government's take will increase to €138.17 again, back to where it was on 9 March, and on 1 September it will increase to €158.50. These figures are not affected by the war in Ukraine, international factors or global influences. This is the money the Government is charging on agricultural diesel.

Much of the discussion the Minister had with Deputy Doherty was on the benefits or otherwise of carbon tax. A core benefit of that tax, we were told, was to change people's behaviour. What alternative does the Government propose for farmers to the use of tractors and other vehicles using agricultural diesel?