Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome section 7 but it is quite limited. In relation to the issue of electric vehicles, there was an opportunity for the Minister to go further in promoting them. At present, the measure is only directed at employees who get a car through work. In our alternative budget, Sinn Féin argued that the bands would be increased by €1,000 and this would encourage more people to take up electric vehicles. I am asking the Minister to consider the proposal. There are numerous reasons we should do that. I understand the Government has moved in certain areas but in terms of the affordability of electric vehicles, I believe we need to continue to subsidise and make it more attractive. The best way to do that is by looking at the different bands in terms of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, grant and increasing those levels appropriately. We argue they should be €1,000 per band.