Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response, but the Ukrainian crisis was not responsible for the introduction of the carbon tax, which has crippled agricultural contractors and had pushed many of them out of the sector before the Ukrainian crisis ever erupted. This Government blames either a crisis or the EU, but it needs to take responsibility and implement clear measures to support this sector.

Has the Minister met the farm and forestry contractors, who are in a deep crisis? They are facing more than a doubling in the price of MGO, known as green diesel, since January. MGO is used in the machines that provide services to thousands of farmers in every townland throughout Ireland. FCI research has shown that, during 2021, its members were being quoted an average MGO bulk delivery price of 75 cent per litre, plus VAT, with slight variations throughout the year. In recent weeks, quotations have risen to nearly double that and now average €1.30 per litre, plus VAT. This is the highest ever price quoted for MGO for farm and forestry contractors and we need action from the Government.

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