David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

No, I am afraid that will be another ten years or so. It will be finished by then or I will be finished. Perhaps I will be using a driverless car at that stage. They are one of those wonderful electric vehicles that can be programmed.I heard on the wireless that Volvo will cover people for accidents, an issue that someone had raised. I think that is pretty good. I would use a driverless car if I was covered for accidents.

There is a lack of logic here. There is always a temptation within the Department of Finance to claw in as much money as possible but in a democratic republic we should look for some degree of fairness. In terms of climate change and what is happening in Paris as we speak, we must think in terms of the amount of pollution. I rarely use my car. I drive it down here, which is a mile or so from my house, and I take it to the cathedral on Sunday and then to the club for lunch and that is it - full stop. I make about two forays to County Laois every year and I take the car. I will probably give that up fairly soon because I do not understand the new motorways at all. It seems to be a festoon of roundabouts between Maryborough and Mountrath and I have simply not the slightest clue where I am. I miss all the old wonderful landmarks. As I am on this little foray, I note how sad I am that we no longer go around that bend in the road in Tipperary and get that wonderful, dramatic view of the Rock of Cashel. Motorists are deprived by missing out on these glorious aspects of the Irish countryside.

I welcome the Bill but I wish the Minister of State would take back to the Cabinet a little protest from me to the effect that there is a degree of unfairness in the extraordinarily high rates of tax on old cars. Something should be brought in that does not fix the tax at the moment a large car is bought and keep it there until the vehicle is taken to the scrap yard. It means that old cars will be scrapped and there will be very few of them left. It is a waste. I put those few matters as suggestions to the Minister.