Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour)

I ask the Minister to undertake a review of the present system for the collection of motor tax, which I argue is an antiquated one. Given the current financial environment, every Department, as well as every legislator, is conscious of the need to become more financially efficient. I would argue that the collection of motor tax by the State in its present form is the most inefficient and expensive way of doing this that could be, which is why I ask the Minister to review it.

When one considers the methodology of motor tax collection, people drive to their local office to pay their tax, which is anti-environmental in the sense that people should not make unnecessary journeys. Every recent Government has tried to promote the idea of drivers not using their vehicles unnecessarily, be it in regard to schools or otherwise, and the same should apply in this situation. When one goes to a local tax office, cars are double and treble parked outside it, which is very negative for the environment.

The policing of motor tax is a crazy system. Members can think of many positive things gardaí could do other than running around trying to police the payment or non-payment of motor tax. That is not the way it should be done. Moreover, if one carries on into the realm of those who do not pay their tax or display their tax discs, many of them end up in court, as can be seen from the national and provincial press. This also involves police and court time, is very expensive and is the wrong way of dealing with this issue. In addition, anyone working in a local tax office will know that in the present environment, where many are unemployed, the level of motor tax evasion goes through the roof. People hold back on payment and a small number do not pay at all. If one takes the point about policing to its conclusion, some who do not pay end up in court and, in some cases, to add to the whole nonsense of the present system, people end up in jail, which adds to the expense for the State. All of these reasons add up to a compelling case to review the current system.

While I accept there is an argument against this, in other jurisdictions motorists pay tax on their fuel, be it petrol or diesel. The fairness in this system is that those who use their vehicles the most, pay the most. It is added on to the driver's fuel cost, so if I am a very regular driver, it will cost me more, whereas if I am a modest driver and use my vehicle only when needed, I will pay less. What could be fairer than that?

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