Government under pressure as ....

As the US and Iran agree to a two-week ceasefire - here at home groups of professional drivers, hauliers, contractors and farmers took their demands for the removal of carbon tax and a fuel cap out onto the roads of Ireland. And in Easter Week they are parking up for the long haul on O’Connell Street in Dublin and have vowed to stay until they get a response from Government to save their businesses. The Government took in an extra €6m in excise duty last month, as the public paid a higher price for petrol and diesel due to the war in Iran, The Exchequer was the only one to profit from the higher prices at the country’s filling stations. Phelim Molloy, the Leader of the Irish Natural and Hill Farmers’ Association said that urgent government action to combat soaring farm input costs is more urgent than ever to ensure the future of the industry and he said he says carbon tax is a cash cow we can do without. He points to rocketing energy prices and input increases with farm diesel charges having doubled in the past five weeks. And with the silage season not far away, many farmers have big decisions to make as tractor diesel and bale wrap costs are now out of control.