Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)

It is relevant. It is important that organisations such as the Green Party are allowed to remain in existence. This is an environmental issue, a motoring issue and a taxation issue and it is entirely relevant.

To get to the kernel of the issue, the Minister referred earlier to increases. We should remember they could not deal with the environment or the emissions, as was proposed by Fine Gael and Labour in Opposition before the election, by suggesting there be a precise reduction everybody could identify with regarding emissions. The increases are 9.5% for cars below 2.5 litre engine capacity and 11% for cars above that level.

There is a penalty for the cars above the specified engine capacity, with which I do not have a problem. There is also an increase for those below. The stick and the carrot are wrapped up together in one heavy bludgeoning instrument that will be unleashed on the heads of the poor unfortunate population.

There has been much talk about transport in this country recently and I will deal with two specific subjects. We must be realistic on an economic basis when evaluating our position. The transport system in the country was and still is totally outdated. We were never geared up for modern transport and never moved along with investment in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s or 1990s. We have not done so since the foundation of the State.

People speak about the degree to which the problem has arisen in the past ten years, the fact is the problem was not there beforehand because we exported our population for the previous 50 years. The perspective is completely different from that of other European countries. The experts should be careful they do not wrong-foot themselves economically and cause serious problems for the country.

I have other points. The selling point on this issue was that the money was going to local authorities. Everybody thought this was wonderful and the Government backbenchers jumped up and down and clapped their hands, cheering. It is untrue, however, as the amount of money available to local authorities has decreased on another level.

My colleague, the Minister of State from Kildare South, Deputy Seán Power, will have travelled over the potholed roads of north and south Kildare, in urban and particularly rural areas. All the people there can do is replace the suspension on their cars at least every six or seven months because the roads are in such an appalling condition.

I blame the Government backbenchers for this, just for want of blaming somebody. Somebody must be blamed in this case and they must stand up. I hear the Fianna Fáil backbenchers have been at least standing up on the pharmacy issue in the past couple of days. Now is the time for the Government backbenchers to stand up and brace the Government on this issue, if they have a conscience in that area.

I remind the Government that we should not be told of the great things which will happen to the roads in the country as the amount of money going to them has been reduced. The proof of this is that all local authorities in the country dramatically increased the rents of local authority houses in the past number of weeks. There were 100% increases in some cases. Development levies have also gone up. There have been all sorts of increases, as cheques can be written in order to extract more money from the unfortunate consumer.

We have seen and heard much criticism of the motorist in recent times, as if he or she was a potential criminal who should be put off the road at the earliest opportunity. They are said to be doing incredible damage. Deputy Ring and others have referred to the people who actually damage the roads.

I remind the Minister and the Government front, back and middle benches that the unfortunate motorist contributes more than €5 billion per annum to the Exchequer. For that, he or she will get clamped if they park in the wrong place or if they cannot find a place to park. If they drive to a railway station and cannot find a place to park there, they get clamped again. A congestion charge is now being considered for when they drive into towns in certain parts of the country. That is a financial clamp.

Very little credit is given to the fact that a very sizable commitment is made to the Exchequer by the motorist of all shades, opinion and size. Very little recognition is given by the Government but the motorist is paying through the nose for the provision of services that do not come about. It is extraordinary.

It is my sad realisation that my time is nearly concluded although I have many issues on which to speak. I agree entirely with the concept of engines designed for lower emissions. They will be very beneficial. Technology has advanced greatly and can advance much more, creating improvements that we have not even examined yet.

Long may the happy loving family of the Greens, Fianna Fáil, Progressive Democrats and the Independent Government backbench supporters continue to walk, drive and cycle in the various modes of transport available to them. I plead that they use vehicles with lower emissions.

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