IFA Deputy President Eddie Downey said the EPA/ESRI Strive report shows how Government policy decisions continue to discriminate massively against rural Ireland.

The report shows that carbon tax will cost rural Ireland millions of euro as the Greens protect their own urban constituency at the expense of rural Ireland.

Government must realise that farmers, rural householders and agri-businesses are struggling to survive. The €330m that the carbon tax siphons out of the economy will be at the expense of jobs, as companies will be forced to introduce cuts to meet the bill.

Mr Downey called on Fianna Fáil to defend rural homes, farm families and agri-businesses by rescinding the carbon tax until the economic circumstances allow for its introduction.

He said - “The carbon tax will have a disproportionate negative impact on rural households. The fact is that the average annual cost of the carbon tax would be 2.6 times greater on rural households, compared to households in the cities. Many of these households in rural areas already pay water charges, pay a higher electricity charge and have deplorable roads and communications infrastructure.

“This EPA/ESRI report must be used as a benchmark for Government to recommit themselves to the people of rural Ireland and review all inequitable policy decisions which are driving people out of the countryside and into large cities and towns.”