Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this legislation. I wish to put on record my views on motor tax, the role of motors in Irish society, the road safety issue, the Dublin Port tunnel and other important matters relating to motorists and taxation. Over the years motorists have received a bad press and I do not agree with the current, politically correct aim of driving motorists off the roads.

I am a regular motorist and have driven around many parts of this country and through many countries in Europe. I have seen some examples of good practice in motoring as well as disgraceful and bad practices. Motorists have no problem paying their taxes and the figures show their massive contribution in tax to the Exchequer. However, do we get value for money? We need more good quality roads and a first class, efficient policing service.

I welcome recent progress in the construction of top quality roads. This has led to major improvements in the economic development of the country. It has also led to improved road safety. Most recent accidents have occurred on minor roads. We must confront this reality and improve these smaller roads. More investment is required to improve the quality of life for motorists, particularly those using minor roads.

While discussing this Bill on motor tax and the motoring sector in general, it is relevant to raise the issue of the Dublin Port tunnel. Most people have heard about the positive side of this project but there is another side. There are now 117 homes in my constituency whose walls, floors and doors have been damaged in recent weeks. The residents of Marino, Fairview and Santry have had to endure major disruption and, in recent days, major explosions took place under homes in Marino and Fairview. This has led to suffering and trauma. I am anxious to represent their views in this debate.

The way they are being treated is a disgrace and I urge Dublin City Council and the Minister for Transport to listen to their grievances and do something practical for them. There is no point winning awards for engineering projects when homes are being damaged by the use of explosives and huge tunnel boring machines. Today I received the up to date figures on this problem. The number of complaints registered in my constituency to date is 117. There are 72 complaints from within the 30 metre zone of the tunnel and 45 complaints from outside the 30 metre zone. There have been 72 building precondition surveys, the number of loss adjuster's initial reports was 77, the number of loss adjuster's investigations ongoing was 39 and the number of repairs of cracks undertaken to date is one. One house has been repaired. It is important that the Minister is aware of what is happening. There are 83 cracks in houses, 14 hairline cracks, 12 instances of jammed doors, windows and glazing, two damaged roofs, five homes with plumbing problems and one other serious complaint. The total is 117.

I raise these issues in this debate because the tunnel is part of the strategy for transport. Following inspection of alleged damage, it has been agreed with the remaining householders to postpone repair work until the return journey has been undertaken by the tunnel boring machine. Approximately 585 people in these 117 homes are directly affected by this project.

The primary purpose of the Bill is to give legislative form to the increases in motor tax rates and trade plate licences contained in the financial resolution passed by the Dáil on 25 November 2003. A standard across the board increase of 5% is provided for. The increased revenue that will arise will be paid into the local government fund. That is a progressive development. Since the establishment of the local government fund in January 1999, all motor tax receipts, including payments for driving licences and so forth, are paid into it. In addition, the fund is supplemented by an Exchequer contribution. The fund is ring-fenced for local authority purposes and is distributed to local authorities as discretionary grants in respect of daily spending requirements and expenditure on non-national roads. These are sensible objectives. I strongly support the concept of ring fencing funding for projects. That is what the consumer and motorist wants.

Section 1 is the interpretation section containing definitions used throughout the Bill. Section 2 provides that the new rates of motor tax and fees for trade plates apply to licences taken out for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2004. Yesterday saw another development in the continuing debate on transport when there was a huge stoppage in bus and rail transport in Dublin and throughout the State. A total of 9,000 transport workers are concerned about their jobs. These are decent, hard working people. They are PAYE taxpayers and many of them are motorists who pay their motor taxes. They have a right to be heard. I disagree with the political parties, particularly the Government parties and some of the Opposition parties, who attacked the NRBU. These workers deserve our support.

They are concerned about privatisation, which is an important issue for them. I appeal to the Minister not to wreck our public transport services. I accept that the stoppage was grounded on fear but some commentators have also said it was grounded on emotion, which I do not accept. I urge the Minister and the Government to talk and listen to the unions about these important issues. They are also relevant to the debate on motor tax. These 9,000 workers, in addition to working in the public transport services, have family cars and pay their motor taxes. They have a right to be heard because they are stakeholders in the service.

Earlier some Deputies said that the problem of potholes has gone from the agenda. I do not accept that. One road in my constituency, Philipsburg Avenue in Dublin 3, is full of potholes and I have been discussing this in the last few days with residents on the road. They are demanding action. Many of them are motorists who pay their motor taxes. They are demanding that these roads and potholes be fully serviced and surfaced. They are a health and public safety hazard and I urge the Minister, the Department and Dublin City Council to get their acts together and repair Philipsburg Avenue.

There is much misinformation on the matter of penalty points. Many of the people caught under the existing legislation are caught at seven or eight miles above the limit in 30 mph or 40 mph zones. However, most accidents happen where speeds of 80 mph, 90 mph or sometimes even 100 mph are the issue. Let us be honest with the people on this matter. The sad reality is that the death toll to date this year is 47, up ten on this time last year. We have a major problem with regard to road and public safety and we must deal with it.

Cyclists on our roads are another issue. I urge them to be careful and cautious. I support them in their campaign for cycle lanes. However, there are many irresponsible cyclists, particularly in Dublin. who jump red lights, weave in and out of traffic and clip off cars etc. I urge them to be careful so that we do not end up with cyclists being killed. They should have respect for themselves, motorists and the public.

We have a major crisis on roads like Collins Avenue and Griffith Avenue where heavy goods vehicles blatantly disobey the law of the land. I urge the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to address this. Heavy goods vehicles are using these roads although they are not permitted to enter these areas. The law must be implemented properly.

I commend the motorists of this country who contribute €4 billion to the Exchequer in taxation. They have a right to proper services and roads. They also have a right to an input into the development of services as do the 9,000 workers, many of whom are motorists, who took part in yesterday's public transport demonstration. The way to solve the problem is through a combination of private motoring and quality public transport. It is not one or the other.

I disagree with some of my colleagues in other parties who appear to be obsessed with hammering motorists. Yes, we must have a quality public transport system but we must also respect the rights of private motorists. The reality is that people need a car to bring their children to schools and football matches etc. These are matters for our debate on motor taxation. Some €4 billion has been given to the Exchequer by motorists who have no problem with paying their taxes. These normal decent people who pay their taxes deserve services. We have no problem with paying our taxes but we are putting down a marker in this debate with respect to this legislation. We will pay our taxes but we demand a say in the provision and running of the services. The Government should not dismiss lightly the views of motorists and taxpayers.

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to address this Bill.

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