{"id":25404,"date":"2022-03-09T09:48:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T14:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25404"},"modified":"2022-03-09T14:32:13","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T19:32:13","slug":"government-announces-temporary-fuel-excise-duty-cuts-to-tackle-soaring-gas-prices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25404","title":{"rendered":"Government Announces Temporary Fuel Excise Duty Cuts To Tackle Soaring Gas Prices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The measures announced on Wednesday will last until August 31st (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A significant cut in the excise duty on fuel has been announced by the Government, with Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe confirming a cut of 20 cent per liter on petrol and 15 cent per liter of diesel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Mr Donohoe warned there was only so much the Government could do to insulate businesses and consumers from a rise in costs exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The measure, introduced amid concerns about growing pressures on the cost of living, will last until August 31st.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Government estimates that the measure will cost $354 million (\u20ac320 million).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The move, which was agreed following a virtual Cabinet meeting earlier today, will take effect from Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ministers said the cut would reduce the cost of filling a 60-liter tank by $13.28 (\u20ac12) for petrol and $9.96 (\u20ac9) for diesel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They stressed the Government was acting in response to the spike in prices already witnessed, but also ahead of anticipated further rises in costs as the war in Ukraine continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent days, as the crisis in Ukraine escalated, the Government had softened on its previous cast-iron refusal to intervene again on the cost of living before the budget in October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Mr Donohoe said that the latest crisis is different: \u201cWhat is happening here is, tragically, a conscious decision to inflict violence and terror on another country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is a man-made capacity behind this that we all hoped we would not have to confront again in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow that is why we, even though, geographically, we are at a distance from what is now happening, we have obligations and we have commitments to help and we are determined to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Donohoe rejected calls from Sinn F\u00e9in to go further, with party leader Mary Lou McDonald calling for \u201cno half measures\u201d from the Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe times are too serious for auction politics, with the risks that Europe, our country faces, as we face the consequences of war,\u201d Mr Donohoe said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scale of the crisis on the continent of Europe will have an as-yet-to-be-determined effect on Ireland, officials warned on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Government has responded to help to ease the impact of these price changes, but we cannot protect citizens and businesses from the entire cost,\u201d Mr Donohoe said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Government does want to be very honest about what we can do and the level of protection and support that we can offer. We can make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can help in covering the costs and in helping make a contribution to the costs that many are facing. But we are not in a position to insulate our economy, insulate our country, entirely from the global pressures that are taking place at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath said he expects hundreds of millions of euro will be spent by the Government welcoming and supporting refugees from Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere will be a cost, but whatever the cost is, it is a cost that we can afford and it\u2019s a cost that pales into insignificance compared to the suffering and the human misery the people of Ukraine are facing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan insisted the best way to land a blow to Russian president Vladimir Putin was to stop buying Russian oil, gas and coal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe best way of protecting our security in Europe and helping people in Ukraine and improving our economic situation is to switch,\u201d the Green Party leader said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said this was something that was needed regardless as the country reaches for its ambitious climate change targets, adding that people might drive slower to save on fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Mr Ryan described the prospect of fuel and energy rationing in the weeks and months to come as \u201clow\u201d.<\/p>\n

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