Government announces fuel duty cuts and defers carbon tax increase

In response to rising fuel costs and farmer-trucker protests, the government announced a 10-cent cut in excise duty on petrol and diesel, plus a 2.4-cent reduction on marked gas oil (green diesel). The planned May carbon tax increase has been deferred to October's budget. Home heating oil saw no reduction. Measures require EU approval and take effect from midnight Tuesday through end of July.