Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)

I hear what the Minister is saying regarding tapering, but that can be translated into different language. It means that, for individuals, they will see their tax increase in 2027, 2028 and 2029. It will continue to go up because the OMV will basically increase each of those years because the offset is being reduced. It also applies to carbon-neutral cars, which means we are going to tax individuals.

I have said before to the Minister that when you look at motorists and what is happening at the minute, the Government has increased tolls. It decided not to offset those increases. The Government has increased the cost of petrol and diesel in this budget. Over and over again, we have this penalty for people who cannot pay their motor tax. I have raised this continually each year and I am going to raise it now with the Minister for the first time. That is a bygone day. That motor tax penalty comes from the days when tax discs had to be posted out and we did not even have computers or the Internet. That is how far back that goes. It is ridiculous that people are penalised because they cannot pay motor tax in one go, particularly now that motor discs are being got rid of. This needs to be got rid of as well. This is another penalty that is going to be on drivers. I do not agree with it and I will push it to a vote.

See this speech in context