Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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170. To ask the Minister for Finance the measures he plans to implement to assist the motor trade due to the substantial drop in car sales and the increased volume of imports, in some instances with environmental impacts, particularly from Northern Ireland and Britain, and the impact on employment in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4124/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The large scale importation of used cars from the UK during 2016 to 2018 may be due to a number of factors such as the relative weaknesses of sterling and the disparity in policies between the UK and Ireland in relation to the taxation of diesel and diesel vehicles.

My Department recognises that the large scale importation of used cars from the UK over the past number of years is undesirable from a public health perspective and also an Exchequer perspective. In this regard, my officials will bring forward options to the Tax Strategy Group later in the year to address the matter and more broadly to help Ireland meet its 2030 Climate Change targets.