BBC:
Excise duty on petrol and diesel is set to be cut by the Irish government in a bid to help people with volatile prices caused by the war in the Middle East.
From midnight on Wednesday until the end of May, excise duty on diesel will be reduced by 20 cent and petrol by 15 cent.
The proposals, which were agreed at a leaders’ meeting on Monday, will be brought to cabinet for approval on Tuesday.
A diesel rebate scheme for hauliers and bus operators is also expected, which will be backdated.
Diesel prices rose from about €1.80 (£1.56) per litre to between €2.20 and €2.30 at the weekend.
Petrol also rose steeply to about €2.
Earlier, Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin welcomed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that strikes against Iran power plants have been postponed due to “productive” talks with Tehran.
Following this, crude oil prices dropped, but Martin said he would not get “into specifics” about whether this would affect the supports.
There will be an excise reduction for agricultural or green diesel.
The overall package which will also include targeted energy supports for pensioners, carers and people with disabilities is set to cost €235m.
