Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I accept that the Minister has inherited a system that has existed for many generations, but the local government fund, of which motor tax is the bulwark, is a debate for another day. Unless all factors are right and there is a proper public transport system, there will be difficulties when people try to use public transport and the motor tax take starts to decline. Where will local government funding come from then?

I do not agree with the Minister about my party colleagues commenting on his anti-rural and anti-family measures. His intent is genuine and the Bill has good aspects, but people and families in rural areas depend on cars. This is a fact of life. We are entitled to raise the issue of the implications of increasing motor tax. When going to work, a city dweller can hop on a bus, the Luas or so on, but the situation for people in rural areas — we must not forget that a large portion of Ireland is rural — is different and there is no point in claiming otherwise.