Sinn Féin TD for Meath East, Darren O’Rourke, has said the government must end the rip-off and cut the cost of driving. He was speaking as the party moved a Dáil motion this week that calls on government to stop hikes, end the financial penalties for paying motor tax in instalments, reverse the latest carbon tax increases on petrol and diesel, and to stand up to insurance companies once and for all.
Teachta O’Rourke said: “From the eye-watering price of petrol and diesel to the spiralling cost of insurance, drivers are being hammered with sky-rocketing costs. “Now, drivers are facing a fresh round of toll hikes following the announcement by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) late last month. “These are people who are commuting to work, driving their kids to school and just just living their lives.
“Government policies are pricing ordinary people out of this basic necessity – the ability to affordably get where you need to go. “Sinn Féin’s Dáil motion, which will be voted on next Wednesday, is an opportunity for Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Regional Independents to finally stand up for commuters.
TOOL HIKES IN THE NEW YEAR
“Government cannot claim their hands are clean when it comes to the rip-off or that the factors driving up costs are outside of their control. The opposite is true. “For example, the latest round of toll hikes due to kick in this January – the government is hiding behind the fact that these increases are contractually linked to inflation when it is within the government’s gift to defer these hikes.
“They did so in 2023 following mounting pressure after a similar motion by Sinn Féin, so what is stopping them now? “With the cost-of-living crisis rampant, their refusal to budge or even acknowledge that they have this power on a measure that would just cost just €10 million shows just how out of touch they are.
“It is the same when it comes to the carbon price hike, which took effect last month. Annual increases are not set in stone. Government can choose not to proceed with a measure that pushes up the price of petrol and diesel even further when Irish drivers are already paying some of the highest prices in the EU.
COST OF MOTOR INSURANCE
“The record of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on motor insurance speaks volumes. They refuse to hold insurance companies to account. Sky-high premiums are all the more difficult to swallow given that the sector’s profits have been above industry norms over the past few years.
“The government’s latest so-called ‘action plan’ to lower insurance premiums follows a similar ‘plan’ brought forward last term that failed to make any difference whatsoever. Once again, their ‘plan’ is nothing more than a smokescreen to hide from the fact that this do nothing government is all talk and no action. “Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have repeatedly rebuffed Sinn Féin proposals to get this under control, including their refusal to progress Sinn Féin’s Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill 2021 to ensure the benefits of reforms are passed onto customers in the form of lower premiums, rather than captured as higher profits for insurance companies.
“Similarly, they continue to punish drivers who do not pay their motor tax in one lump sum. The fact that this government penalises people who cannot take this significant financial hit all at once tells you all you need to know. ” We will continue to stand up for drivers. Now it is government’s opportunity to do the same: Support our motion and implement five simple measures and cut the cost of driving.”
