EU deal ‘an excuse’ not to cut fuel price

The Government has been accused of using a European agreement signed seven years ago as an “excuse” for not bringing down the rapidly rising cost of fuel.

With a litre of petrol now averaging €1.65, twice what it was 10 years ago, the Government has ignored calls to intervene, claiming a 2005 agreement with the Economic and Financial Affairs Council blocks them from cutting tax on fuel.

Of the €1.65 pump price, almost 90c goes into the exchequer coffers.