Government castigated at Mayo fuel protest for 'ignoring working people'

"People are crippled at the moment and the Exchequer is taking in more and more money in taxes"

Mayo road hauliers, agricultural contractors and HGV transport and bus operators gathered in Castlebar today to protest against spiralling fuel prices.

Over 100 vehicles passed through the town centre in a display of concern for jobs and livelihoods within the sector.

Independent Ireland Mayo County Councillor Chris Maxwell said people have had enough and they expected a better response from the government.

"This peaceful protest is to support the ordinary working people across the county who are crippled at the moment by the surge in fuel prices.

"And we are very concerned by the government's inaction in dealing with the crisis in a realistic fashion.

"They have address the level of tax the Exchequer is taking in on fuel at the moment and reduce it significantly.

"Families are contacting me on a daily basis stating they cannot heat their homes because it's become too expensive to fill their oil or gas tanks as the price is gone through the roof.

"Heating oil and agricultural diesel needs to come down to around €1 per litre with car fuel being reduced to around €1.70 per litre.

"The government is loving this situation because the higher the price, the higher the tax take.

"But they forgotten about is the ordinary people running small business and in real danger of going to go to the wall.

"They simply cannot sustain it any longer and that's going to be a massive hit on rural Ireland.

"The secret is the government needs to act and act today."

Local business owner Michael O'Haire said people are finding it increasingly hard to go out to work in the morning and pay their taxes due to the increased costs.

"We don't want to go back to 2007 and 2008 where people lost everything.

"But it is heading that way fast. So we have no option to take a stand to prevent it from happening.

"This is affecting everyone. We are all under pressure financially. The government needs to cop on and that's the reality of it.

"If they don't deal with the issue, we'll all be out of work and they will have to pay us dole. So let them deal with it now."

Mayo Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh said when her party tabled the parliamentary amendments to radically reduce fuel costs, they told the government parties that their proposals were an insult.

"But when it came to the vote, the government's motion was passed by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs, propped up by Deputy Michael Lowry's group of independents.

"And because they have the numbers, they have adopted a type of arrogance on this matter."

Castlebar haulier operator Tom Denning said the problem with the big parties is that there is a whip situation.

"I have spoken to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs who support the stand we are taking, but they cannot put their heads above the parapet because they'd get their heads taken off in the party whip situation.

"But I think this protest will serve a purpose because those TDs will go back to their leaders and say it's time to do something about this and listen to the people on the ground who have spoken, like we have done in Castlebar today."

Councillor Patsy O'Brien said the government is not helping the ordinary people on the street.

"The middle class people are being badly squeezed again and that's not right."

Councillor Harry Barrett said it is vital that the protesters make direct contact with the elected government representatives in the county and demand action.

During the course of today's protest through the street of Castlebar, a detour was taken to ensure it passed the constituency offices of Minister of State Alan Dillon at the junction of New Antrim Street and Linenhall Street.