A local MLA has called for an “intervention on escalating fuel costs” after the price of diesel at the pumps hit £2 a litre.
The soaring costs of fuel are having devastating effects on households, while farmers, fishermen and hauliers are in danger of “going under for good” and public services are also being hit hard.
South Down DUP MLA Diane Forsythe said more must be done to help Northern Ireland as fuel prices here have now risen to a “shocking” level.
She was speaking on the floor of the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday and warned worse was to come unless action is taken now.
“Diesel has hit £2 a litre, and we feel that pain at the pumps, but we can be assured that the rise will affect much more than that,” said Ms Forsythe.
“Our hard-pressed working families feel it in their fuel and heating costs. It is also hitting the heart of our economy. Our farmers and fishermen, the backbone of our local agri-food sector, are being hammered once again. Those sectors are heavily reliant on fuel, and soaring costs run the risk of putting them under for good.
“Our small businesses and local tradesmen are on the road across the Province daily, and they continuously see their profits diminish. The prices that they pay for their fuel have been rocketing since they quoted for jobs. How are they supposed to manage running their businesses?
“For transport businesses, including hauliers, it is devastating for an industry that is already under pressure, with a large coach or HGV taking around 400 litres of diesel. The recent increase could see them hitting an extra £180 on average for a tank of diesel. That is unmanageable.
“People do not often think of the bigger impact of the pressures on the haulage sector. It means that less food and fewer supermarket products make it on to our shelves and that more of our restaurants and building suppliers are pressurised when it comes to getting supplies. It further drives up the prices for those who cannot access those materials.”
The south Down MLA said there was also the impact on public services to be considered.
“Transportation services, including taxis, are contracted on rates that are based on the fuel cost at that time, which may be lower,” she continued. “With those costs escalating, it might be unaffordable to run those businesses. We could have children who might not get to school and patients who might not get to their appointments. We could see pressures on airports, our tourism sector, sports teams and weddings. No aspect of our lives will be unaffected by it.”
Calling for “intervention” to help combat the effects of the escalating fuel costs, Ms Forsythe added: “They are crippling our households, businesses, sole traders, farmers and fishermen. It is pressurising our public services. It is felt by every person here.
“We need to see an extension of the reliefs for hauliers and cuts in fuel duty and taxes on red diesel beyond this year. We need to see further interventions. Action is needed now, before it is too late to recover.
“We saw a UK Government intervention on electricity costs, but any support on fuel needs to be direct. It should not have taken a special scheme in Northern Ireland to sort it out. The zero rate on VAT for domestic electricity should have applied automatically.
“The Windsor framework was a barrier, and the Government need to stand up to the EU on that.
“We need action on fuel costs, which are crippling everyone. Our DUP MPs will raise that issue at the heart of Westminster, and every MLA should raise it at every opportunity.”
Most read today
PUBLIC NOTICE
