*** Irish government announces tax cuts after fuel cost protests | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Irish government announces tax cuts after fuel cost protests

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DUBLIN: Following a week of intense civil unrest and blockades that brought emergency services to the brink of collapse, the Irish government has announced an emergency package of fuel tax cuts to alleviate the spiralling cost of living.

In a swift response to the protests, Finance Minister Simon Harris confirmed a 10-cent reduction per litre on both petrol and diesel. Furthermore, the planned increase in carbon tax, originally scheduled for May, has been deferred until the autumn budget to prevent further immediate financial strain on households.

The measures come as a direct attempt to restore order after demonstrators restricted access to the nation's sole oil refinery. These disruptions caused significant fuel shortages, directly impacting hospitals and fire services across the republic.

While the government maintains that these reliefs are essential for economic stability, ministers have condemned the blockades as illegal. They have vowed to protect critical infrastructure while ensuring that the immediate financial pressures on families and businesses are meaningfully addressed.