Varadkar hints final excise increase on petrol and diesel will not go ahead

Leo Varadkar also said the VAT rate of 9% for the hospitality sector is no longer justifiable

Speaking to reporters at the Fine Gael think-in in Limerick, Mr Varadkar said he wouldn’t like to see the final restoration of excise duty due at the end of October to drive prices back up to €2 again. File photo: Leah Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has strongly indicated that the final increase of excise duty on fuel will not go ahead.

He also said a number of one-off payments announced in next month’s Budget will fall in this calendar year but warned that they won’t be “on the same scale” as last year’s Budget.