09/03/2022
Farm & Forestry Contractors grossly insulted by 2 cent per litre Excise Duty reduction
The members of the Association of Farm & Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) have been grossly insulted by the announcement of a mere 2 cent per litre Excise Duty reduction being proposed today by the Government to alleviate the spiralling increases in agricultural diesel prices. This reduction comes at a time when agricultural diesel prices have risen by 75% in three months.
“The reduction of 2 centre per litre equals a €20 per 1,000 litre price reduction at a time when agricultural diesel prices have almost doubled,'' said John Hughes, national chair of FCI. “This token 14% reduction in the non-Carbon Tax component of the tax payable on agricultural diesel is an insult to all Farm & Forestry Contractors,” he added.
“These exorbitant agricultural diesel price increases coupled with the lack of adequate Government support, will force many Farm & Forestry Contractors to consider the option of offering their services to farming this year,” said the FCI national chair.
“This token fuel tax reduction comes at a time when the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is requesting farmers to grow more food. The Minister has once again snubbed the Farm Contractor sector by refusing to allow Farm & Forestry Contractors to be included in this week’s emergency meeting of farming organisations”, said John Hughes.
“Who does the Minister, and his officials think will do this additional emergency cultivations, sowing and harvesting work that he plans to put in place? Farm Contractors are aggrieved that once again they have been left outside door when it comes to planning for agricultural production but will be expected to be on the end of the phone line and quickly in the fields delivering quality and efficient work with their machines when the work has to be done,” said John Hughes.
At FCI we are calling for the total abolition of Carbon Tax on agricultural diesel for a period of five years, in order to reduce costs and to allow adequate time for the international machine development and supply sector to provide alternatives to Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) in the form of market-ready zero carbon systems that will meet the lower carbon climate objectives as set out in the National Climate Action Plan,” said FCI national chair John Hughes.
Farming Independent Irish Farmers Journal Thatsfarming.com Agriland.ie Irish Farmers Monthly CountryWide RTE Radio 1 Ear to the Ground TG4
