Government must address spiralling fuel prices – Crowe

The Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has called on the Government to intervene to address the issue of rising fuel prices and the implications this is having on jobs, consumers and the wider economy.

Crowe said that the increase in fuel costs will mean motorists will have to pay an extra €1,000 per year

Deputy Crowe said:

“Hard-pressed motorists are again facing spiralling fuel costs with predictions of the price of petrol reaching a record high of €1.70 per litre with diesel already reaching €1.65 at some pumps.

“It is likely that the hike in petrol and diesel will mean that the average motorist will pay an extra €1,000 a year to run their car compared with just two years ago.

“There are a number of reasons put forward for this unprecedented increase including the weakness of the Euro against the Dollar and tensions in the Middle East but Government taxes are by far the biggest factor. A whopping 60 per cent of the retail price of petrol is made up of taxes levied by the State and this is happening at a time when families are struggling to pay for the most basic household items.

“Rising fuel prices on garage forecourts means more expensive haulage costs that will inevitably be passed on to hard pressed consumers.

“The bulk of motorists are dependent on their car to travel to work, particularly as our public transport is often unreliable, impractical, or plain non-existent. In most rural areas, having access to your own mode of transport is absolutely necessary and it is simply not good enough for Finance Minister Michael Noonan to wash his hands of this.

“This issue must be addressed urgently as the cost that is being passed on to drivers is resulting in significant hardship, affecting the economy and in the long run costing jobs.”