Dublin taxi drivers are to seek a meeting with the Departments of Finance and Transport over the proposed introduction of carbon tax on fuel, SIPTU said today.
SIPTU's Dublin Taxi Drivers' Official, Mr Gerry Brennan, said the introduction of a tax on fuel was "just another attempt on the part of the Government to generate revenue for itself.
"As fuel forms such a large proportion of running costs for taxi drivers, a carbon energy tax as outlined in the Government's consultation paper would add further to the erosion of taxi drivers' incomes," Mr Brennan said.
The Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, yesterday announced a consultation process for the introduction of a carbon energy tax. He said a carbon tax is being considered by the Government to encourage a reduction in the Republic's greenhouse gas emissions.
A consultation paper has been published on the Department's website and the deadline for submissions is September 30th.
Mr Brennan said taxi drivers "would certainly encourage more ecologically friendly practices" but that taxing fuel was not the way to go about it.
"We believe it is unacceptable that our members should have further costs imposed on them while they are trying to provide the best possible service to the public," he added.
Mr McCreevy's move was also criticised yesterday by the AA whose spokesman, Mr Conor Faughnan, accused the Government of "using the environment as an excuse for revenue generation".
Mr Faughnan said a five cent rise in the price of diesel and petrol would yield an extra €200 million for the Exchequer. However, the rise would do "virtually nothing" to reduce the amount of petrol and diesel sold and do "absolutely nothing for the environment".
