Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

Deputy Kieran O'Donnell referred to the Green Party as the "mudguard" of the Government. The term "fig leaf" would be a more apt description, given that this proposal attempts to conceal the Government's intentions to squeeze more revenue out of motorists, despite the fact they contribute €5.2 billion per annum to the Exchequer. Given the Minister's Green credentials, I would not mind if the proposal was to fund public transport and provide car parking spaces at railway stations and bus centres so that people could use alternative transport. However, not one cent goes in that direction. The unfortunate Minister is the decoy for the Government. He is the victim. He has imposed extra taxation for no reason. I am sure if one was outside the door of the Department one would hear the officials laughing. No disrespect to the very good officials in the Department of Finance, but they must have thought Christmas had come early when they heard of this proposal. Santa Claus no longer comes down the chimney; he comes in with the Minister as far as the Department of Finance is concerned. It is appalling, given the Minister's Green credentials that he did not say this would go directly towards alleviating the emissions or providing for car parking spaces or encouraging public transport in some shape or form.

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