Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I went through the report from the Taoiseach on the European Council meeting in detail and I saw nothing on the escalating cost for hauliers in this country. The week before the European Council meeting, I spoke in the Dáil to stress the urgency of the escalating cost of fuel for hauliers. Having met representatives of the hauliers' association, I again ask why the Government has not introduced a proper fuel rebate scheme for diesel as it is the only means for getting our produce to the export market and around Ireland.

Customers can pay only so much and they cannot keep taking price increases. When diesel goes above €1.08 plus VAT, it is no longer feasible to keep Ireland moving. Currently, the rebate scheme only applies up to a maximum of 7.5 cent per litre but today we are looking at prices of more than €1.25 plus VAT per litre. Belgium is paying its hauliers a rebate of 23.6 cent per litre until fuel prices come down again.

The basic cost goes back to every household in the country. We are looking for a proper rebate system. If the hauliers have greater costs in getting our produce to shops, those shops will charge more to get that produce to customers. The Government must address the matter with hauliers and specifically the fuel rebate system. It must be done now. Under European law, we could go to 16 cent per litre now. For every person in a house in Ireland, it would put more money back in their pockets as the hauliers' costs would decrease.

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