Fuel costs may be reduced next week with hauliers set for talks on finer details

Asked after the meeting if ordinary motorists would benefit, transport minister Darragh O’Brien said he could not go into specific details.

Fuel costs may be reduced next week after indications from hauliers that excise cuts will be included in a suite of measures to be announced by the Government.

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) said on Thursday that a plan to be announced after a Cabinet meeting next Tuesday “will include relief on excise duties on fuel and an enhanced diesel rebate scheme for hauliers”.

However, government sources insisted on Thursday night that nothing had been decided and all options were still on the table.

IRHA president Ger Hyland confirmed to the Irish Examiner that the prospect of a hauliers strike is off the table until “at least” Tuesday, when plans are announced.

Following a meeting with transport minister Darragh O’Brien, the IRHA stated that the minister had “committed to substantial supports for the haulage industry”.

“The Irish Road Haulage Association will meet with officials from the Department of Transport over the weekend to work out the finer details of those supports, but it will include relief on excise duties on fuel and an enhanced diesel rebate scheme for hauliers,” Mr Hyland said.

“These will be enacted in the Dáil on Tuesday next, and will be reviewed every two weeks for the duration of the crisis in the Middle East.”

Nothing decided

Several senior government sources stressed on Thursday night that nothing had been decided and that talks between the party leaders would continue over the weekend.

Asked after the meeting if ordinary motorists would benefit, Mr O’Brien said he could not go into specific details.

“We are looking at a package in the round as well,” he said.

“It's not just one sector, but I think everyone would understand the importance of the haulage sector and also the level of increases in costs that they have borne over the last three weeks.”

Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty told the Irish Examiner that if the Government does introduce a diesel rebate, the higher that rebate is, the smaller any potential excise cut would be.

This is due to a European directive that sets minimum excise levels for petrol and diesel.

"The best way and the fairest way, to reduce the cost of diesel for motorists, the general public and for hauliers is to reduce the excise duty on it to the maximum amount, reducing the cost at the pumps by 25c," Mr Doherty said.

"If the government were to increase the diesel rebate, they would only be supporting one sector and short-changing the general public. That would not be fair or reasonable."

At leaders’ questions, Tánaiste Simon Harris ruled out energy credits. Mr Harris said that it would not be the “speediest or most effective way” to help people as summer approaches.

“Any measures that the Government takes next week need to fulfil two primary objectives,” Mr Harris told Mr Doherty in the Dáil.

“They need to ensure that assistance can be applied quickly and that we keep the space to adapt the response, should that be required, in the weeks and months ahead.”

• Louise Burne is the Political Correspondent with the Irish Examiner.