Business leaders reject truckers profits proposal

BUSINESS leaders last night branded a proposal by truckers to put a 2% levy on companies’ profits to fund major infrastructure projects as unworkable .

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA), angered at increasing tolls and delayed infrastructure projects, say the tax would inject extra funds into developing roads and rail while doing away with tolls.

IBEC transport spokesman Reg McCabe said the idea was unrealistic and urged a national tolling strategy: “There would be quite a number of sectors, including hauliers, that would be on very low profit margins or even making losses and something like this could even put them into the red.”