Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)

The proposed road tax increases are anti-family because most family cars are in the low cc categories, which are being increased across the board. I cannot see anything family-friendly in the budget and this proposal will hit families again.

The Minister stated the "programme has also an important road safety dimension in the context of increasing road safety measures". This statement highlights once more how out of touch the Government is, particularly given yesterday's announcement by the National Roads Authority that it is abandoning its proposal to establish rest stations along national routes. In recent days, an unfortunate tragedy occurred when another vehicle struck the car of a family who had stopped on a national road killing an infant. The Minister's statement indicates how out of touch he is with the agencies over which he is supposed to have responsibility. On previous occasions, he has argued he has no responsibility for incineration. Now, he and his colleague, the Minister for Transport, argue they have no responsibility for road safety.

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