INHFA wants 'decisive intervention' as fuel crisis reaches critical point

THE president of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA), Phelim Molloy, has today outlined the association’s key message to government following yesterday's emergency meeting to address the escalating fuel crisis impacting households, farmers, and hauliers across the country.

Speaking on behalf of INHFA members, Mr. Molloy stressed that the current situation has reached a critical point, with unprecedented numbers of farmers, transport operators and members of the public taking to the streets. And the root causes of the crisis must now be urgently addressed.

“The message from our members is clear,” said Mr. Molloy. “The government must deal with the underlying issues that have brought so many sectors together in frustration.

“These are not abstract challenges - they are immediate, real, and placing unsustainable pressure on livelihoods and rural communities.”

Mr. Molloy emphasised that resolving the crisis is firmly within the government’s control and that a clear duty of care rests with policymakers to act decisively. “This is a situation that is within the government’s power to fix it. The time for analysis has passed - what is needed now is meaningful, immediate action,” he said.

During the emergency meeting, the INHFA put forward a number of practical and targeted proposals aimed at alleviating pressure on farmers and the wider public including:

* Immediate suspension of the carbon tax to reduce the cost burden on fuel users.

* Reduction of VAT on white diesel and petrol to 13.5% to provide direct relief at the pump.

* Full abolition of VAT on green diesel and home heating oil, recognising their essential role in agriculture and rural living.

* Introduction of a subsidy on wrapping for round bales, ensuring costs are maintained at 2025 levels and preventing further strain on farm incomes.

Mr. Molloy warned that continued inaction risks deepening the crisis and further destabilising rural economies.

“The time has come for decisive intervention. These are practical steps that can be implemented immediately. It is imperative that the government acts now to restore confidence, support rural Ireland, and address the cost pressures facing all sectors.”