Truckers’ protest

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On the picture below you can see Dennis Doyle protesting together with fellow truckers against the enormous road tax comparably to the tax amount in UK.

Please watch video below from Irish Independent:

The Irish Road Haulage Association is threatening more strikes across the country unless the Government takes urgent action to address the road tax system.

Lorry drivers held a four-hour blockade at Dublin Port this morning causing traffic disruption across the city.

Around 100 members of the IRHA were protesting over the road tax they pay.

It costs €4,000 to tax every six-axle truck in Ireland, compared to £640 (€823) in Northern Ireland.

The hauliers were also protesting over a tax of £10 on every truck entering the UK.

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe has reiterated his position that he will meet with hauliers only after they lift the threat of strike action.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Six One News, Mr Donohoe said a working group is in place to examine the issue surrounding the disparity in road tax costs between the UK and Ireland.

He said he accepts it is an issue of “legitimate concern” for drivers.

However, the IRHA said it is “concerned with the complete lack of evidence that this group has made any progress on the matter”.

The association said 50,000 people are employed in the haulage sector and these jobs will be at risk if things do not change.

IRHA President Eoin Galvin said: “Operators, where possible, are ‘reflagging’ to other jurisdictions to avoid the excessive road tax levels, but that is not an option for everyone. And, quite frankly, why should an indigenous haulage operator be forced to relocate because the Government departments are doing nothing to alleviate this difficulty”.

It said today’s action was the first phase of its efforts to reduce the commercial vehicle road tax and called for an urgent meeting with Minister Donohoe and Minister for Finance Michael Noonan on the issue.

Article source: RTE.ie

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