In the first Podcast of the year, Roadway Ireland presenter Barry Keane talks with IRHA President, Ger Hyland who says the haulage industry is \u201cbeing driven off the road\u201d by new punishing government imposed fuel taxes, higher tolls, new port charges, transport charges and levies, with devastating consequences for small family run businesses across rural Ireland.<\/p>\n
Mr Hyland says these taxes are being heaped on top of a higher minimum wage, auto-enrolment, and a host of other\u00a0costs and\u00a0charges on small businesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe met with the Taoiseach in December and laid out the amount and extent of increased taxes we are paying as an industry. We made it very clear that unless some action is taken to reduce our cost base, we would not be afraid to mount crippling public protests to highlight the damage that is being caused to our industry.<\/p>\n