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

The Minister made reference to limited capacity to reduce the excise duty on agricultural diesel. That suggests to me the Minister could have gone further than the 2 cent reduction. I ask him to go further and to make sure he takes measures that will assist this sector, which, as I said, is in deep crisis.

I ask that an additional matter be considered. Farm Contractors Ireland, FCI, is requesting that farming and forestry sector fuel supply requirements are prioritised, given that contractors need supply. These requirements need to be prioritised as essential in the event of national fuel shortages. The FCI fears that the national silage harvest could be compromised, leading to a fodder shortage in winter 2022 and spring 2023. It has also asked for the Government to remove immediately the carbon tax from the marked gas oil used in agriculture and forestry by farm and forestry contractors for a period of five years in order to reduce costs and allow adequate time for the international machine development and supply sector to provide alternatives to internal combustion engines. I ask the Minister to consider those measures.

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