Taoiseach takes calls for an end to road tolling on board during Drogheda visit

Dear Sir,

I had the opportunity and pleasure to meet our Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last week. I explained to him that I am running a campaign to get rid of all ‘road tolling’ in our country. I put it to him that it was an important issue in many constituencies around the country including Droichead Átha and Louth.

He agreed saying that the M50 was in fact in his own constituency. I told him that as a member of Fianna Fáil I was campaigning within my own party insert a ‘ toll free’ policy in our party manifesto for the next general election.

An Taoiseach asked me how much it would cost to rid the country of tolls. I told him that I calculated that it would equate to around 6/7 cents extra per litre of petrol or 5/6 cent on diesel.

When Mr Varadkar suggested that motorist might not like this, I retorted that in Droichead Átha alone the variation in prices or unleaded petrol can be as much as 4 cent from station to station. Ergo 6/7 cents is not as much as it seems. Leo remarked that last year might have been an optimum time to do scrap tolls when oil prices were lower. I have to give full credit to our Taoiseach, he took my www.jffk.ie business card and said he would give it due consideration.

I don’t want to misrepresent him by saying that he agreed with my campaign, but he was genuinely engaged and interested. I believed him when he said he would examine the issue.

I have been urging local Fine Gael representatives, Fergus O’Dowd in particular, to have this kind of conversation within their own party. Pretending that minister Shane Ross can get rid of road tolling is not useful. Fergus should talk to Fine Gael members in other constituencies affected by tolls. He should talk to Leo and tell him that the people who get up early in the morning in Louth expect to be treated equally.

He should tell Leo that if Fianna Fáil adopts a toll free policy as part of their next general election manifesto Fine Gael will lose seats in 14 constituencies around the country to Fianna Fáil, including his own.

If Fergus starts trying to change Fine Gael policy in relation to road tolling I will be among the first to thank him for his sincere efforts. He should do as Leo will do, consult my website www.jffk.ie for all economic, traffic, property prices and safety information he needs. But please Fergus, don’t insult me, my town or Louth commuters with photos ops and blather. I have told you what to do to earn our respect. Now do it.

I am not interested in pointless protesting or moaning about road tolls. I am only interested in success, in winning. I am implementing a plan that can work only with your help. Together we can achieve something special. Join www.jffk.ie Yours John Kierans PRO Fianna Fáil Louth / East Meath