The Irish Road Haulage Association warned yesterday that the rise in oil prices had placed the transport industry in crisis and called on the Government to introduce a tax rebate on fuel.
It said in a statement that fuel prices had risen 40 per cent in the past year and are expected to rise by a further three cents per litre to 93 cent, excluding VAT, this week.
"It is time that our Government takes the plight of our industry and potential effects of this crisis on our economy seriously," said Jimmy Quinn of the Irish Road Haulage Association.
He said the association had suggested to the Minister for Finance that he introduce a duty rebate system for hauliers based on a sliding scale. This would help hauliers, who currently faced meltdown, he added.
"We are an island nation and need to get product off the island and back on again. We can no longer ignore the realities that our sector faces," said Mr Quinn.
The hauliers' association said the current rate of duty on 1,000 litres of fuel was €367 exclusive of VAT, which it described as an enormous burden for hauliers.
