Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In responding to Senator Barrett's point regarding the need to review tax policy, the point I was trying to make is that this is not work the NRA was statutorily set up to lead. That does not mean, however, that the work is not happening. In fact, it is happening, but it is not being led by the NRA. The two organisations with principal responsibility for inputting into the development of tax policy in this area are the Department of Finance and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.The previous Minister established an interdepartmental group to review the issue of commercial motor tax and the potential to have road user HGV charges. I inherited this work and I am very much committed to receiving a report from the group. I have met representatives of the Irish Road Haulage industry to discuss the matter. In November 2014 the group launched a stakeholder consultation process which concluded in February and was followed by two further meetings of the interdepartmental group in March and April. I expect to receive its final report in the coming weeks.

I agree that there is a need to examine this issue and that work is happening. The National Roads Authority has been able to have an input into this work. I differ with the Senators on what is the appropriate body to lead the work. Given that the Departments of Finance and the Environment, Community and Local Government have the lead in setting and creating policy in this area, they are the organisations carrying out the work, into which the NRA has an input. I accept the policy need about which the Senators have spoken and emphasise that the NRA has an input to this work. My main reason for not accepting their amendment is that other Government bodies have statutory responsibility for this area and are leading the work. One of the reasons the work is under way was outlined by Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill. I am very much aware of the pressure the local road network is under, as opposed to the national road network. I am also aware that our economic recovery is bedding down. This, combined with the consequences of the abolition of milk quotas and further growth in the timber industry and the type of vehicle that will be on the road, means that there is a need for a policy in this area to be looked at and that work is under way.

On the legislative process, I ask the Acting Chairman to make a ruling. If I do not accept an amendment, will the Bill continue to Report Stage when the matter can be discussed further? If that is the case, I certainly do not have a desire to try to complete the Bill this afternoon. I discussed the matter with the Cathaoirleach and, on the basis of the number of amendments which had been tabled, I thought we would have an opportunity to complete the Bill today, but if Senator Sean D. Barrett wishes to return to these points at a later point, neither I nor, I am sure, anybody else wants to play a role in curtailing his opportunity to do so.