Fianna Fáil has called on Fine Gael TD for Meath West Ray Butler to stand up for commuters, hauliers and farmers in Co Meath and support a Fianna Fáil Bill that would immediately cut the cost of petrol and diesel. TDs will vote on the Motorists Emergency Relief Bill in the Dáil tonight, Wednesday, 25 April 2012.

Meath Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane Cassells has questioned the credibility of Deputy Butler’s commitments to his constituents after he backed down on his own calls for a cut in excise duty on fuel. This follows an earlier u-turn on his promise to Meath mortgage holders to force the State owned Permanent TSB to reduce its mortgage interest rates.

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Cllr Cassells said: "Just last week, Deputy Butler called for a cut in petrol and diesel prices but he has now told Michael Read on LMFM that there is 'no point' in him losing the party whip over a 5 cent reduction at the pumps. I am completely taken aback by this comment. The Fianna Fáil Bill puts into legislation exactly what Deputy Butler called for just days ago.

"This is not the first time that Deputy Butler has backed down on his commitments to the people of Co Meath. He sang a good song about the need to force Permanent TSB to cut its variable interest rates, but he then refused to support a bill put forward by Fianna Fáil’s Finance Spokesperson Michael McGrath to do exactly that.

"Given that Deputy Butler has taken the issue of fuel prices so seriously in the past, it makes no sense that he would vote against a Fianna Fáil Bill that would provide an immediate cut at the pumps. He must stand up for what he believes in and stand up for the people of Co Meath who are being squeezed from every angle at the moment. I am uring Deputy Butler to do the right thing and support this Bill in the Dáil tonight," said Cllr. Cassells.

(CD/GK)