Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)

Deputy Catherine Murphy made a point about motor taxation but I suspect that was specified at the time. I had this experience when I established the national drugs strategy and task forces. At the time, Members pressed that the moneys retrieved by the Criminal Assets Bureau from drug crime should be earmarked for beneficial purposes in the communities worst ravaged by the drug situation. The advice from the Attorney General was that we could not have earmarked taxes because taxes go to the Exchequer and the Government decides how they are disbursed. I imagine that is also the issue here, that it is not possible to ring-fence the tax. I note the Deputy's point about climate change and I will be happy to examine it again. I see a certain logic behind it.

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