Mr. Tom O'Mahony:

As is the case in many instances, a technological fix to this will make matters much better. The file is given to the Garda on a weekly basis and, as the Deputy probably knows, the Garda has a system for automatic recognition of number plates. Although it will require the legislation, we hope it will become legally possible to use speed cameras for this purpose. We also have the M50. Quite a number of opportunities exist to electronically check cars on the road and tally them automatically with the list of untaxed vehicles so that, over time, particularly when this loophole is closed, we should be able to reduce the evasion figure to a very small number, as is the case in the UK.