Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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I will support the amendment. The Government has introduced many plaudits and grand schemes, and often talks about climate change and the need for us to engage and change our ways, for which there are all kinds of incentives. As every member will know, however, people in rural Ireland often have to travel to work and college but there might not be any public transport such as a bus. Nevertheless, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, with the Government's support, wanted to lock them all up, take their cars and throw away the key.

This is a meaningful opportunity for the Minister for Finance to put his money where his mouth is and support such people. The limit is high enough that it will be used for genuine reasons. Many people, as the Deputy noted, have to crisscross and cover large areas. Where I live, people often have to cover Munster and Leinster, and that is the way it is. Hundreds of people leave County Tipperary every morning to travel to work in the construction industry in Dublin. Apart from the distance, there is pressure, use of time and fatigue when travelling in traffic.

The first 100 miles are fine but the rest of it is at a snail's pace. It is agonising and it contributes to pollution. The Government cannot seem to see that. In this case we are asking the Minister to assist, perhaps through a tax credit that could be claimed over 15,000 km per annum. It would be some meaningful attempt to have fairness and equity. It would support na daoine go léir, those fir agus mná who get up early in the morning, sometimes very early or in the middle of the night, to travel huge distances to work, and at huge risk also because they are out on the road in all kinds of weather especially at this time of the year. I appeal to the Minister to give serious and favourable consideration to these people. In a couple of years' time we will be trying to encourage them to change to electric cars and so on. We need to show some cause or sentiment of understanding as to how difficult the challenges are they face with the kilometres they travel.