Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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In cash terms, the heaviest polluting cars will benefit more from this change than the lowest emission cars. Does the Minister accept that? That goes against the principle of what is being attempted. On the percentage of taxes paid it will be the opposite but if you have a sports utility vehicle, SUV, or a high polluting car your benefit through this change is over €1,000, whereas if it was a category A or B car it would be €800 or less, depending on the mileage range. That goes against the principle of what is being attempted.

The Minister says he will keep this under review. When a Minister says something will be kept under review, that is sending a signal that it may not come to an end at the end of the year. We want to encourage businesses to move in this direction. Is this a case of mixed signals or is the Minister looking at a tapering because, as has been said, the cliff-edge has become more severe in some cases? Where companies have not moved they are looking at €800 to €1,000, in some cases, of additional taxation next year on employees.

The other two questions I have for the Minister are as follows. Does the Minister have any estimation of the number of individuals this will apply to and the number of vehicles we are talking about that have not moved? Does the Minister have any indication of the cost of this measure?