Mr. J.J. Kavanagh:

We have made submissions in respect of VAT. As I outlined in my opening statement, it was only submitted in the past couple of weeks because, obviously, the situation has worsened. It will become a bigger problem during summer when coach tourism is at its height.

As regards the fuel rebate, up to 2010, scheduled services were deemed an essential and important part of the national infrastructure and we got a rebate on fuel of 0.34533 cent per litre. That figure is ingrained on my brain; I have never forgotten it. We used to get it monthly. We got a rebate on fuel every month for scheduled services because the State recognised them as essential. That was taken away because of the financial crash back then. The 7 cent that was secured subsequently is minuscule. In fairness, the paperwork involved in doing it now is incredible. I used to do it for my business and it took two hours. It now takes two people in the office two days to prepare the paperwork to receive 7 cent, 5 cent, 2 cent or 1 cent per litre, depending on the price of fuel.