Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

On a point of principle, I oppose taking all Stages of the Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012 today. It is significant sleight of hand by the Government, as this is the first increase in motor tax duties since 2008 and undoes the vast majority of the work undertaken to reduce motor tax duties on low-emission cars. The Bill provides for significant tax increases in the case of CO2-branded vehicles of between 44% and 54%. It also provides for increases in the case of all other motor vehicles, in the process raising approximately €46.5 million. This is a significant departure and will pave the way for the Government to return to motor tax being paid on the basis of engine size as opposed to emissions, as had been mooted. I raised the matter with the Minister for Finance last week. I do not see the necessity for the Bill to be brought through all Stages in one day. I, therefore, ask the Leader to take Second Stage today and allow space between Committee and Remaining Stages in the following two days.

The household charge has been discussed in the Chamber in which it has been raised on the Order of Business on many occasions. What the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, said on radio yesterday was sensible. It is what we have been calling for. We should make it easier, rather than more difficult, for those who wish to pay this household tax. Nonetheless, there are conflicting messages coming from Ministers. Yesterday, the Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, said arrangements were being made to allow for payment of the charge to be made through the post office network. I raised that matter in the House last week. It is a good idea and should be pursued because there are 1,100 post offices located around the country. The fact that post offices cannot accept the payment and no provision has been made to allow for such payments to be made through them is making the situation much more difficult. Looking at the figures, just under 370,000 people have now paid the charge, which is just over 20% of the total. No one can foresee a situation where anything close to 70% or 80% of households will have paid the charge by the deadline of 31 March which is this Saturday. Therefore, the Government needs to be reasonable and realise that the manner in which it is going about collecting the charge is not working. The deadline should be extended, in addition to allowing easier access for those who wish to pay the household tax.

The Fianna Fáil group welcomes the publication of the Mahon report and fully accepts its findings. We fully support our leader, Deputy Micheál Martin, in the swift and decisive steps he has taken. As we discussed last week, at the appropriate stage, sufficient time should be made available to debate the matter in this House. I suggest a full day be set aside for such a debate, when business permits us to do so. In that way, everyone will be given an opportunity to examine fully what is a very detailed, serious and important report which should be dealt with. The Dáil will debate this matter for three days this week. It is appropriate that we see the responses given in the Dáil before further discussion takes place in this House. The Leader will receive full support from my own group. When does he propose to allow that debate to take place and can we have a detailed debate with sufficient time given to it?

I ask the Leader to allow more time for the Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012, and not to take all Stages today. If all Stages are taken today we will be obliged to oppose the Order of Business.