Greens abandoning principles and buck passing in face of road protest:Minister John Gormley and Minister Eamon Ryan have both confirmed that the primary objective of the proposed carbon fuel tax is to generate revenue and are refusing to hear submissions in relation to it on the basis that they should be directed to the Minister for Finance.

The Irish Road Haulage Association has expressed surprise and disappointment at the official and identical responses that it has received to its proposals to fully think out and enhance the mechanisms for applying the proposed tax so that it successfully reduces carbon emissions.

“We have been advised in writing by both Ministers that they have no desire to meet the Association and that our concerns have been directed to the Minister for Finance as the proposed carbon fuel tax is a taxation matter rather than an environmental matter,” said Mr. Vincent Caulfield, President of the Association.

“Minister Gormely and Minister Ryan have clearly chosen to wash their hands of the issue having satisfied themselves that it is fundamentally a tax matter. Their identical responses raise questions about the real motivation and credibility of the Green Party in presenting polices which it claims will achieve real behavioural change resulting in reduced carbon emissions,” he added.

“Road hauliers will not be hoodwinked into accepting another increase in fuel duty dressed up as a carbon fuel tax or to be shuffled from one Department to the next without reply. We are prepared to take to the roads as we did in the past if that is what it takes to have the Government hear our case and concerns,” he continued.

In its Pre-Budget Submission, the Association advised Minister Ryan and Minister Gormley that the current proposal to introduce a carbon fuel tax was incomplete and called on Government to permit licensed freight carriers to charge a carbon tax on services in the same way as VAT.

“The Government has failed to recognise or comprehend that the demand for transportation services and the movement of freight is collectively generated by manufacturers, traders, distributors and consumers. The road haulage industry is simply facilitating that demand,” Mr. Caulfield commented.

“The Government is missing the point that these are the only parties with the potential to achieve a real reduction in carbon emissions. The proposed tax must be targeted so that it effects a change in behaviour and logic would dictate that it should apply to the transport services provided by the industry if it is to be applied to the only fuel available to the industry,” he added.

“Minister Ryan and Minister Gormley’s refusal to even consider facilitating a meeting between the Association and the Department of Finance on these matters displays their willingness to pursue a course which better serves that Department’s attempts to plug the hole in the States finances rather than a genuine attempt to introduce a policy which will reduce carbon emissions,” he concluded.

For further information and interviews with Mr. Vincent Caulfield contact 086 2541 424