Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow, John Brady, has called on Government TDs to support Sinn Féin’s legislation to act decisively by removing carbon tax from home heating oil for as long as prices remain high.
Deputy Brady made his comments as Sinn Féin spokesperson on Finance, Pearse Doherty TD, announced that the party is bringing forward emergency legislation this week to remove carbon tax from home heating oil to reduce costs for households struggling with soaring energy bills.
Brady added that it was unacceptable that, deep into an ongoing energy price crisis, the Government has failed to remove a single cent of carbon tax from home heating oil despite sharp increases in costs for ordinary people.
Teachta Brady said:
“For months, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents have stood by while workers, families and pensioners who rely on home heating oil have borne the full force of rising energy costs.
“Home heating oil has been one of the fuels hardest hit by soaring prices, yet the Government has stubbornly refused to remove a single cent of carbon tax from its price.
“The Government needs to wake up to the reality facing households and start putting workers and families first.
“It will not be lost on the public that the higher they pay for home heating oil, the more money the state takes in from hard-working people through taxes like VAT.
“The result of that is some households now can’t even afford a refill, so it is far too late for half measures or tinkering around the edges. We need to see the carbon tax completely removed on home heating oil while prices remain high.
“The Government must support Pearse Doherty’s legislation to act decisively by removing carbon tax from home heating oil for as long as prices remain high.”
ENDS