FUELS RANSOM

Call for urgent tax cuts as hauliers threaten to strike

- BY BAIRBRE HOLMES and SARAH MAGLIOCCO

THE Government “will act” on rising energy costs, the Minister for Justice has said, but could not indicate when that will happen.

Jim O'Callaghan was speaking on behalf of the Government at Leader's Questions in the Dail yessterday.

Sinn Fein’s leader Mary Lou McDonald said home heating oil had reached €900 for a half fill and “people can’t wait as Fianna Fail and Fine Gael twiddle your thumbs”.

She said: “The Government hauled in an estimated additional €38million in taxes and levies due to these price hikes in just one week.

“So it's blindingly obvious what you need to do, cut taxes on petrol, on diesel and home heating oil This would immediately bring down prices”.

Mr O'Callaghan said: “The Government will respond to this.

"However, what we're not going to do is engage in a knee-jerk response, just for the purpose of being seen to do something immediately.”

And he added that “deliberations are ongoing”.