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INDEPENDENT TD MATTIE McGrath has called on the Minister for Finance to reduce the Government’s excise duty on petrol and diesel.
Deputy McGrath said his proposal was reasonable as the cost of crude oil is at a record five-year low.
However, a spokesperson for the Department of Finance said the suggestion was not realistic as it would result in a tax hike elsewhere.
The Tipperary South TD said the Government had an opportunity to make sure people could “directly feel the benefit” of the economic recovery.
“The cost of crude oil has fallen to a five-year low and that should be reflected in the savings that can be passed on to motorists and employers like hauliers and others in the transport sector,” McGrath said.
He added that the Government “chose not to” support an opposition Private Members Bill, the Motorist Emergency Relief Bill, that would have effectively cut fuel prices by 5 cent, in 2012.
It is staggering to see that almost 57% of the retail price of petrol is in the form of taxes paid to the Government. In light of that scale of revenue return there must be some room for alleviating manoeuvres on behalf of the taxpayer.
The Department spokesperson said the taxation on petrol and diesel “comprises an excise component which is fixed and a VAT component” based on the end-price of the product.
“Accordingly, the steady reduction in the price of petrol and diesel in recent months, while good news in terms of reducing costs for business and the public at large, has meant a reduction in VAT receipts to the Exchequer in respect of these products.
“Any reduction in excise duties would have to be balanced by an increase in tax elsewhere or by a reduction in public expenditure,” he stated.
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I must admit I am (the only) one of Ryanair’s very happy repeat customers
I’m with you there Jason, I’ve never had a problem with them and I’ve been using them for years.
Great Jim, you have just jinxed our next Ryanair flight/”experience”
not true as i always fly ryanair where i can. my favourite airline.
IM in your bracket also ,flew over 15 times and never had a problem ..finger crossed anyhow off London in April
I rarely have a complaint. But I will put you this question and this happened me last week.
Tomorrow morning at 6.30 there are 2 flights to Birmingham. One AL the other Ryanair. Both are pretty much the same price. Which one will you chose? No contest.
Ryanair of course, it’ll be on-time
A certain percent will never be pleased with anything so 93% is an amazing high result
They are doing well because there is no such thing as a “cheap” flight anymore
I just booked a return flight to Sweden for €100, it will cost me €40 just on petrol to drive to and from the airport. And probably €30 ish to park. Makes the flight look pretty cheap to me.
Big question is why he wants Aer Lingus
Maybe we should look west for the answer to that one.
trans atlantic flights i suspect although o leary has said he can only do low cost flying on short haul flights.
Could they throw a few bob my way so I can make a profit in the third quarter too?
People with the acumen and capacity of Michael O’Leary must get sooooooooo frustrated when they watch the way our country is run. It makes me laugh, bitterly
Good man Mr O’Leary, now if you’d be so kind as to hurry on and put those profits into a RyanAtlantic launch. New York for the weekend? Don’t mind if I do!
Hate flying with them. But Mick should be running this country.
Agree with your first point, disagree with your second one.
Bill Clinton for Taoiseach! :P
Everyone moans about them but cant turn down the cheap flights
Fair play
So approx 10 people on every aircraft say they’ll never fly with Ryanair again? That’s not good.
There isn’t a business anywhere that would not be delighted with those customer satisfaction numbers.
You’re clearly not used to reading Cust sat numbers if you think that. Very broad questions from which you would expect very high bungees – some of these numbers are not as good as you’d expect.
And a penny of that won’t go back into there filthy dirty horrid planes.
The youngest fleet in Europe you mean?
Micks a legend! love to hear his debates great talker but that’s not what this country needs in a leader!
And Sir des champs is going to win the gold cup…. Looks like Mick is in for a really good year!
Wow
have your say