Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. It is fair to acknowledge that this change was not subject to consultation. However, we have so many examples of reliefs like this across the tax code that we have to recognise the right of the Government of the day to make changes. If we are to be guided by consultation in every difficult change we make, the bias will always be towards not making the change. I feel strongly that we have to be willing to consider how incrementally the tax base has become compressed owing to there being reasons for us to be unwilling to undo changes. I have acknowledged that this change will have an effect. As I said on another matter last night, there are few opportunities available to me to make or undo policy changes that do not cause difficulty somewhere.

Regarding Deputy Michael McGrath's point about cost, I can only provide a speculative yield at this point because the relief has been in place for a long time. The figure is based on our judgment of the yield. It is a big figure. We estimate that the cost could be approximately €20 million, although we have not included it in our budgetary arithmetic. Were I to put that figure in front of the Oireachtas and given that it is 20 odd years since the relief was put in place, I would fairly be asked how we could be sure such a yield would accrue. It is a significant figure.

We had a similar debate last night on the betting charge. It was pointed out to me that, at the time of our greatest economic difficulty in 2008 and 2009, a change was proposed to the betting levy that subsequently was not implemented. Were I to take that approach to the current proposal on the betting levy, it means that I would need to find €50 million somewhere else. That argument does not apply in this instance, as I did not include the €20 million in my budgetary yield figures, but it is a figure the taxpayer has to find and one that has been embedded in the tax code for a quarter of a century.

Will the change have an effect on fleets and the choices companies need to make in terms of the availability and of vehicles and their types? It probably will. Such companies should, however, be able to respond to the change. If Deputies wish between now and Report Stage to flag further difficulties or points of which I might not be aware, I will be happy to engage with the committee on them, but we should be willing to make this change.