Independent Ireland general secretary and TD, Richard O’Donoghue has today (Friday July 11) slammed the proposed agricultural tyre levy.

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) confirmed last year that agricultural tyres are set to be included in the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme from this year on.

The proposed levy of up €80 per tyre on all agriculture machinery such as tractors is currently under review by the Department of the Environment.

O’Donoghue labelled the levy a “disgraceful and tone-deaf attack on working farmers and contractors", stating it could cost the agri-sector €10.9 million. 

The deputy said: “This proposal is nothing short of a tyre tax on the very people who are keeping Ireland’s food system afloat.

“At a time when rural communities are already buckling under the weight of EU diktats, input costs, derogation uncertainty, and market pressure, the idea of lashing on another €320 just to replace a set of tyres is outrageous.”

The Limerick TD said that the EPR schemes are intended to promote recycling but is now just causing heartache for working people.

O’Donoghue asked “Who comes up with this nonsense?”, saying that it is another policy proposed without understanding the realities of farming.

He added that the policy was "designed by people who’ve clearly never set foot on a wet field or changed a tractor tyre in their lives.”

The deputy expressed his frustration, saying that there is no clarity on how or where these tyres are being recycled, and stated for all he knows, a proper recycling network may not even be in place.

O'Donoghue said Independent Ireland is calling on the minister for the environment to stop this levy coming into place.

He stated: "This is not just about tyres. It’s about the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Farmers have had enough. Contractors have had enough. And the people of rural Ireland have had enough."

Irish Farmers Association (IFA) President Francie Gorman also said recently that the levy on agricultural tyres must be postponed until proper disposal systems are in place.

O'Gorman said: “It is much too early to consider introducing a levy on agricultural tyres at this stage.

"Secondly, farmers have not been offered any way of disposing of existing waste tyres on farms similar to the collection points provided for waste plastic."

O'Gorman said that these issues must be resolved before any levy is applied.