Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Compliments are due again to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine this morning regarding the negotiations on the Common Fisheries Policy following the recent negotiations on the Common Agricultural Policy and his handling of the fodder crisis. I wish him continued success.

I also commend the Minister for Finance on what has been achieved regarding the amendments to the maturity dates for our borrowings. What he is achieving at ECOFIN is huge and I wish him continued success.

I am concerned about issue of VRT rebates on used cars which are exported on a weekly basis.

I gather this is a very lucrative business. Senators will all have seen the advertisement stating, "We buy used cars for cash". I have tried to establish, unsuccessfully thus far, how much the State is losing because of the scheme. I am awaiting a reply from the Revenue Commissioners. I spoke to the chairman yesterday at a meeting of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and, please God, I will receive a reply. Hundreds of cars are leaving the country weekly, destined for Africa or another destination. We are not concerned about this because the cars may constitute an export product, but I am concerned about the size of the rebates the State is paying under the scheme. I suspect that the scheme has been designed to get money out of the State. I suspect it may be something of a scam, but I do not know and I would like to know more about it. Perhaps a debate on this issue could be dovetailed with another on a financial matter.