Government ‘profiteering’ at motorists’ expense

SURGING oil prices are allowing the Government to “profiteer” at the expense of hard-pressed drivers, it was claimed last night.

Motorists’ groups demanded the exchequer hand back some of the €2.2 billion it rakes in from the forecourt pumps every year.

With petrol rocketing in price by 28% since 2004 and diesel soaring by 45% in the same period, the Government’s tax take is burgeoning.