Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

We took responsibility for those matters. The Minister is part of a Government that takes responsibility for nothing, not even tax clearance certificates.

The lifetime restriction, whereby a low emissions vehicle is taxed heavily as against the same model purchased five months later with the same CO2 rating, is a gross injustice. The difference can run to thousands of euro. This injustice is compounded by the fact that imported second-hand cars with the relevant CO2 clearance are to be taxed after 1 July on emissions rather than engine capacity. This means a car bought in the United Kingdom on the same date as a diesel car purchased in February 2008 can be imported into the State and subsequently taxed for its lifetime at a much lower monetary rate. The system is unfair.

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