John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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103. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to reduce or remove the emergency tax placed on fuel after the economic crash a decade ago in view of the rising petrol and diesel prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26949/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The financial crisis brought about increases to fuel excise duties to raise badly needed revenues in the face of a decreasing tax yield. However, excise duties applying to petrol and diesel have remained static since 2012. 

The table below shows how Irish fuel excise duties ranks in EU terms over the last decade.

Source: EU Commission Excise Duty Tables

Excise on diesel in Ireland was the 3rd most expensive in the EU in 2009 and, arising from the fact that there have been no increases since 2012, is now the 10th most expensive. Similarly, many Member States apply higher excise duties on unleaded petrol than Ireland.

It is the long standing practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment on measures which may or may not be included in the upcoming budget.