Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)

My colleague, Senator Hannigan, has suggested that the Minister should introduce a regulation whereby a fine of €50 is imposed on the NRA and the relevant tag company every time a mistake of this nature is made. Does the Minister agree that drivers and businesses which are treated badly should be able to avail of some form of recompense? Does he agree that the imposition of a fine of €50 on the NRA in such circumstances would be appropriate?

I understand that the total revenue from the toll is approximately €80 million a year. In that context, does the Minister agree with Mr. Conor Faughnan of the AA that up to one third of that revenue will be used to meet the costs associated with the frenetic activity needed to try to get the tags through? The staff in the back office will have to be paid, for example. Will almost €30 million be spent on running the system? If that is the case, barely €50 million will be left over as a result of the shabby deal that was done with NTR when the toll was bought out.

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