Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 26:

In page 125, to delete lines 15 to 51.

I appreciate that the Minister of State is filling in for the Minister for Finance. I had hoped the Minister would be in the Chamber, but I understand he cannot be here.

The figures for car sales came out last month. The sector is in serious difficulty, as the figures show. The amendment concerns increases in VRT imposed under the relevant section. The country is in trouble as is reflected in the figures for the sector. This is an unfair burden to place on people. I teased out this point in detail with the Minister who suggested he was open to examining some proposals. That is the reason I had hoped he would be present in the Chamber and I tabled the amendment to ventilate the issue. The increase in VRT is not the right thing to do, as motorists are being screwed left, right and centre on transport issues.

I come from County Donegal where we do not have the option of jumping on a Luas tram. There is not one inch of rail in the county and the public service busses are something we see on television. People must, therefore, jump into their cars. After the increases in fuel prices which have happened consistently in recent years, VAT and motor tax as a result of budgetary measures, we now see an increase in VRT. There must be some relief and a reprieve.

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