Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. Deputy Fitzmaurice has already gone through these issues and I will not repeat the views we exchanged earlier. I take a different view to the Deputy on the matters he is referring to but I respect all he knows about these issues and the way he is putting them forward. I do not believe Deputy McGrath understands the haulage sector at all and he has no knowledge of it. He admitted he was not a haulier and although I am not one either, I have had significant engagement with the haulage sector. The support through the rebate scheme and the different changes we have made are appreciated or understood by the sector. They have made a very big difference to the various issues they have put to us over recent years.

I support road safety and the Road Safety Authority. The work it does is very valuable in keeping our roads safe, as well those who drive our trucks and other road users.

The Deputy does not appear to place such a value on those matters but I do. The type of work that is happening and that the Road Safety Authority is doing is critical in ensuring road users, including those who drive trucks, are kept safe.

The diesel rebate scheme was put in place to recognise the importance of the haulage sector to our economy. When this Finance Bill brought in a different level of carbon pricing, we made the changes that were needed in the diesel rebate scheme to ensure the haulage sector would receive a degree of enhanced protection from the higher level of carbon pricing precisely because I recognise the important role that sector plays in transporting goods around our country and the critical role it plays in our export sector.

I understand the sector but Deputy Mattie McGrath does not. We have put in place significant supports for the sector that are understood, appreciated and recognised by it. I will continue that approach but I must get the balance right between ensuring that incentives are in place for those road users who use diesel to make us more energy efficient and to make the types of changes needed over time and having in place the type of support the haulage sector needs, which is what the Government and I have done.

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