Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Dooley raises two valid issues. Regarding motor tax on heavy goods vehicles, people who have trucks and lorries pay motor tax, and so they should. Heavy vehicles do much damage to roads, so it is appropriate that they contribute to the cost of them as everyone else does. The Irish Road Haulage Association has suggested we move to the model used in Britain, whereby one pays on a daily basis. The idea is that foreign licensed hauliers in Ireland would have to make a contribution to the cost of using our roads. There is an idea there that needs to be studied. There are issues with regard to tolls and administration costs. One interdepartmental group has already met to consider those proposals. If they add up they will be implemented, and if not they will not be. That will take some more work. The European law on cabotage needs to be changed. It means hauliers are carrying empty loads around Europe, which is inefficient, but we would need agreement on a European level to change those rules.

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