Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Could the Minister of State return on Report Stage with a recommendation to delay this for even three or six months? We can discuss it on Report Stage but I am talking about giving the industry some time to adapt. It was a shock to those in the industry; I do not believe they were expecting it. They might have expected it to be a temporary measure in 1994 or 1995 but after 25 years they probably thought it would not change. I thank Senator Mulherin for her support. There is a concern. I worry less about the leasing sector and more about the short-term car rental sector. We value our tourism product. We need tourists to visit places that are inaccessible by public transport. They can survive in the major cities - Dublin, Cork, Galway and so on - but when they want to go out on the Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland's Ancient East or the hidden heartlands in the midlands, by and large, they need a car. If that market contracts, we might see fewer visitors coming here because they need a car and if the cars are not here, they may not come. That is a problem for all of us. We want tourists to visit the inaccessible areas which provide a far greater percentage of the activity - I refer to rural Mayo, Kerry, Donegal, Limerick or Clare - than are provided in urban areas. It is important that we consider that. I accept that resources are scarce and that we cannot have reports on everything but a delay, even of six months, to allow the sector adjust would be helpful. After 25 years, three or six months is not that big an ask. It should be examined. There is no point introducing charges that ultimately result in a net loss to the Exchequer, be it in tourism receipts, employment in rural areas, tourism product and so on. I will not push this to a vote but I ask the Minister of State to consider looking at this sector in its totality. It is important for Ireland inc. that we would do that.