Harkin: Rising fuel costs risk creating two-tier economy

A SLIGO TD has blasted the rise of fuel prices which have hit the pockets of drivers across the North West.

Marion Harkin of Fine Gael warned that the risk of a two-tier economy being set up on the island of Ireland following the rise in petrol and diesel pump prices with another hike due in August.

This ensures that for the first time in a very long while, fuel prices for drivers over the border in the North are cheaper than what the pumps in the Republic are serving up.

Harkin said: “Customers are feeling the pinch and it's quite significant because you're talking about a four cent rise in the price of a litre of petrol and a three cent rise in the price of a litre of diesel.

“So if you get 50 litres, it's going to be €2 more for every fill for petrol and that's very significant for people.

“It's the issue which I've been hammering at in the Dáil and, hopefully when we get our new Taoiseach,

“I will be hammering at it again – especially the impact it will have on businesses, particularly those in border regions.

“Because we're at risk of having a two-tier fuel economy along the border region.

“Already, diesel and petrol prices are less in the North and with this increase – along with the increase that's due in August – we're looking at 15 and 20 cents per litre of a difference in price by the end of this year. No business would sustain that.”

Harkin also urged Finance Minister, Michael McGrath, to put on hold the planned price rise for August.

“I think it's absolutely feasible for the Finance Minister to postpone August's rise,” she added. “He should have postponed this one until he puts this expert group in place to look at the taxation on fuel.

“It affects people in many different ways. Not just in their pockets when they go to the petrol and diesel pumps but also when they're paying for goods.

“We're an island economy so the cost of transporting around the country, especially this part of the country, is very significant.

“So all the goods and the products we buy, many of them have to be transported here and that adds to cost.”