Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Valid points are being raised on the amendment. I welcome this section and also the amendment to include bus operators. It was one of the proposals Sinn Féin tabled in our alternative budget and it will be beneficial to licensed hauliers, in particular those who were buying their fuel in France and elsewhere. A genuine issue arises in terms of the cost of transporting goods within the State and the cost that must be borne by businesses and therefore that is tied into employment. There is scope for a wider impact in terms of job activation or creation measures and how we can assist others. It is progressive of the Minister to include the rebate. While it has been shown to be cost-neutral and that it could even benefit the State, there is no guarantee that is the case. As the Minister indicated yesterday, one cannot just sit back, one must take risks.

I hope the measure will bear fruit. The Minister should be equally willing to examine other areas where we can reduce the cost of transport when it is tied in with job creation or potential job creation. Even if he is not willing to examine the issue now it is something we will have to address in future finance Bills.