James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 3:

In page 4, lines 20 to 22, to delete all words from and including "substituting" in line 20 down to and including "Schedule" in line 22 and substitute the following:

"increasing the figures contained in Part 1 (inserted by the Act of 2001) of the first-mentioned Schedule by 5 per cent".

The purpose of the amendment is to keep the figure in line with inflation. The Government is the greatest offender in terms of contributing to inflation. The proposed figure of 5% is roughly in line with the inflation rate. Amendment No. 4 proposes to substitute the figure of €43 on page 4 with €40. Again, the purpose of the proposal is to accommodate young people and others.

People are feeling overstretched. Even since the war in Iraq began, fuel prices have increased considerably, creating additional demands on people and adding to inflation. In my conversations on the issue of motoring, the most common cause of annoyance is the high cost of motoring and the duties one must pay. There is no protection available to motorists whose cars are vandalised or robbed. The proposed figure of €40 is realistic.

Elderly people are badly affected by motor tax as they usually use their cars only once or twice a week to collect their pension at the post office or attend mass on Sundays. Motor tax is a hefty burden on this group which we propose to help. We will all reach old age some day. We should introduce concessions for this group.

I ask the Minister of State to accept these realistic amendments which would reduce the levy from €43 to €40 and €255 to €240 respectively. I also ask him to accommodate disabled drivers by providing for some concessions in this area. People feel the manner in which the Government increased road tax after the budget was cold, callous and unfair and has added to inflation. I ask the Minister to be accommodating.