Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Ba mhaith liom a rá i dtús báire go bhfuilimid i gcoinne an Bhille seo ina iomláine. Is é sin an fáth nár chuireamar síos leasú ar Chéim an Choiste. Is dóigh linn go gcuirfidh sé isteach ar na daoine is boichte inár sochaí, go háirithe iad siúd sna ceantracha tuaithe.

In retrospect, the Government will go down as the most anti-rural Government ever in the history of the State, and this tax increase is another example of that. Apart from the fact that it is unfair, as outlined by previous Senators, those who bought into the green policy of going eco-friendly by buying relatively expensive cars on the understanding that they would have them for a number of years have seen the goalposts shifted with the result that they will have to pay extra car tax, which is very unfair on them. We must take cognisance of the measure in the broader state of affairs. Given Senator Cáit Keane's expertise and knowledge in the car area, we will have to rename her "The Stig" Keane.