Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for putting all that on the record. We will look at that. I have read the Revenue guidance in detail. However, there is an impact here. The North has been a big supplier of cars as, indeed, has Britain. The figure we were looking at 2019 was approximately 120,000 but the North, in particular, and, obviously, Border counties, would have had more.

Revenue gives an example of the two additional charges that now apply, that is, customs duty, which would not have applied in the past, and VAT, which would not have applied in the past in certain cases. It has now given an example of a car purchased into the State at €32,000. When customs duty is added, it goes up another €3,250 and with VAT, it goes up another €8,223. Then, VRT has to be paid on top of it. Therefore, before we even look at VRT, the car has gone from €32,000 up to €43,000.

I am aware there have been recent changes in terms of tax law in Britain that will impact on this. However, is the Minister considering any measures with regard to how VRT is now applied to the importation of those cars given that there is a significant increase in other charges, namely, customs duty and VAT?

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