Sean Barrett (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Much of the role to which I referred was previously performed by An Foras Forbartha Teoranta before it was abolished by a previous Government. As I understand it, some parts of its function were subsequently transferred into the NRA. There was a distinguished record of publication by people at An Foras Forbartha Teoranta such as Peter O'Keeffe, Patrick McGuinness and Colm McCarthy, the latter being familiar to anyone who has read the report of an bord snip nua. An Foras Forbartha Teoranta did a lot of work of the type described by the Minister. When the reallocation of functions and jurisdictions occurred, that particular function seems to have fallen through the holes in the system.

We must have some response to the issue of the impact of heavy goods vehicles on the cost of maintaining our roads infrastructure. Unless Deputies and Senators get a group together, we will not have that response under the model the Minister is proposing. I would have liked to see the NRA take on that role for its own purposes of discovering which factors most impact the maintenance budget. If there are a lot of inappropriately taxed heavy goods vehicles which might be replaced by more appropriately taxed vehicles, it would be worth finding out about that. Given that the UK authorities have already done the research, it would not be rocket science for the NRA to read it and report back to the House.

The authority might be more open to such a prospect than was suggested in the Minister's response. However, if it is a good idea, I do not mind who carries it out. It seems silly to keep on with a rising bill for road maintenance costs without even being willing to consider the links between that and how we tax heavy goods vehicles. I realise it is the model of a standard reply to say that the taxation of heavy goods vehicle is a matter for someone else. However, if the expert evidence in this matter points in a particular direction, then we should have that discussion. We are not trying to take functions or responsibilities away from any other one.

We need new ideas in this area. I am not satisfied that the role An Foras Forbartha Teoranta used to carry out has been replicated in any other organisation. I am surprised by the reluctance of the NRA even to consider doing it. One calls to mind the observation of John Maynard Keynes that ideas of goodwill are far more powerful than the powers of vested interests. I hope the NRA will reconsider the niggardly reply it has given to the Minister. We had the same resistance from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, which is difficult to understand. I do not have an interest in one type of truck over another, but if the research tells me that more axles per truck is a good thing, that the bulk of maintenance requirements is caused by heavy goods vehicles and that we can make substantial savings in this area, the fact that certain people in certain offices do not like even to think about it is disappointing. We were elected to this House in 2011 with the objective of introducing reforms in a range of areas. This is a simple reform and the obstructionism on the part of others that is indicated in the Minister's reply does not seem appropriate. We have many things to remedy in this country and this is not one of the most pressing ones. However, if we do not press for these types of changes, we will end up in the same type of trouble we were elected four years ago to address. I may opt to re-table this amendment on Report Stage.