{"id":24395,"date":"2021-12-12T10:53:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-12T15:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24395"},"modified":"2021-12-13T10:57:29","modified_gmt":"2021-12-13T15:57:29","slug":"harris-truck-drivers-planned-protest-in-dublin-is-not-the-way-to-do-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24395","title":{"rendered":"Harris: Truck Drivers’ Planned Protest In Dublin Is ‘Not The Way To Do Business’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Lorry drivers held a protest in Dublin city center two weeks ago (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A protest by truckers and haulers against soaring fuel prices which is expected to cause havoc in Dublin city center is \u201cnot the way to do business\u201d, Simon Harris has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Minister for Further Education has hit out at groups, including the Irish Truckers and Haulage Association Against Fuel Prices, over plans for a day-long \u201cblockade\u201d of the city on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retailers have condemned the plans, warning it will be the \u201cdifference between survival and closure\u201d for many stores already badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A similar protest two weeks ago caused heavy disruption on motorways and in the city center, and Monday\u2019s demonstration is expected to be even larger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Harris said the Government had engaged with the Irish Road Haulage Association, which opposes the protests, around measures to tackle fuel costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cMy colleagues Minister (Eamon) Ryan and Minister Hildegarde Naughton had a very good meeting with the Irish Road Haulage Association on Friday, where the IRHA did table a proposal in relation to an expanded rebate scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBoth ministers have undertaken to very seriously consider that. That\u2019s the way to do business though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat is not the way to do business is for splinter groups to blockade effectively our capital city tomorrow and cause other hard-pressed taxpayers very significant difficulty in going about their business and indeed people in accessing our health services and the likes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know that\u2019s a view shared by the IRHA and others. Decent proposals have been tabled by the IRHA and they will be given very serious consideration and very quick consideration,\u201d he said in an appearance on RT\u00c9\u2019s The Week In Politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retail Excellence said the demonstrations would threaten jobs, and said \u201csympathy is rapidly running out\u201d for the truckers and haulers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its managing director, Duncan Graham, said: \u201cFootfall in Dublin city center is down by 30 per cent on 2019 levels, as people continue to steer clear of the capital and instead shop online or in suburban shopping centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis action by truckers and haulers is a body-blow which will drive another nail into the coffin of many city center retailers who are in desperation mode now. In any normal year, the Christmas period is critically important for retailers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis year \u2013 after months of enforced closures, decreased footfall, the increased cost of trade, severe weather disruption and having to contend with the same fuel prices that haulers are protesting against \u2013 it will be the difference between survival and closure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independent TD Verona Murphy has called on the Government to cut direct taxes on fuel to alleviate the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Murphy said: \u201cThe direct taxes applied to fuel here are in the region of 52 per cent price per liter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo where you see \u20ac1.65 for the price of a liter of fuel, over 80 cents of that is going to the Government in direct taxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re an island, we\u2019re unique in that regard. As members of the EU now we\u2019re on the periphery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we\u2019re going to remain competitive on an EU stage and a world stage, we\u2019re going to have to look at our direct taxes and reduce them in relation to the cost of fuel.\u201d<\/p>\n

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