Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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125. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has met hauliers or an organisation (details supplied) in view of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35782/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I am well aware of the threat Brexit poses to every sector of the economy, including the haulage industry. I have received a pre-budget submission and a meeting request from the organisation concerned. Both the submission and request for a meeting are being considered.

I would like to note that in recent years a number of measures have been introduced to reduce the operating expenses faced by the haulage industry. These include the introduction of the Diesel Rebate Scheme, which offer a partial refund of excise duty paid on fuel, as well as providing for the use of natural gas as a propellant at the minimum tax rate allowable under the Energy Tax Directive. Further to this in budget 2016, as an interim measure, commercial motor tax was substantially reduced, in some cases by over 80%, pending the introduction of a system of road user charging for heavy goods vehicles.

I will be in contact with that organisation in due course.