asked the Minister for Finance if he will take steps to arrange a reciprocal agreement between the British authorities and the Revenue Commissioners so that a British tourist may drive a Republic registered car through the Border en route from one part of the Republic to another, with special reference to Irish people whose normal place of residence is now given as Britain.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Temporary Importation of Motorcars.
6.
As I understand the question, the reciprocal agreement suggested by the Deputy would take the form of an arrangement under which we, for our part, would permit our residents to drive through the State, without paying customs duty, cars which they had hired in the Six Counties whilst the British Customs, for their part, would permit British residents to drive through the Six Counties, without paying customs duty, cars which they had hired in this State.
It is a fundamental principle of our regulations governing the temporary importation of motor cars that relief from duty can be allowed only where the importer has his only or principal place of residence outside the State and I am not prepared to provide the further relief sought by the Deputy.
I understand that the British regulations embody a similar residence qualification and, in consequence, a United Kingdom resident may not import a non-duty paid car temporarily into the United Kingdom without payment of duty. Any relaxation of this position would be a matter for the British authorities.
I fully appreciate that temporary importation licences in respect of vehicles could not be contemplated, but I would ask the Minister to appreciate that when people, and especially Donegal people, who are now living in England come back home they hire self-drive cars to tour the Republic and it has happened that a Donegal man——
Surely that is not a question.
It is the same matter, with respect. When he arrived at the Northern customs post, he was not allowed to travel through the Six Counties to Donegal. I ask the Minister to reconsider his decision and take the matter up with the British authorities so that it might apply to Irish nationals who are now living in Great Britain. Does the Minister get the point?
Might I ask the Minister if he would consider the case of an Offaly man, resident in Tullamore, whose place of employment is Tyrone, who has his car taxed and registered in the courthouse in Tullamore, and who uses it each week to bring him to his work. He must leave the car at the Border, cross the Border and seek other means of transport to take him to Omagh. In view of the fact that this is a great hardship—and there must be other persons in the same position—would the Minister not consider taking the matter up with Mr. Terence O'Neill, the Northern Minister for Finance, and see can anything be done about it?
Get rid of the Border.
It is very hard to deal with these hypothetical cases.
This is not a hypothetical case.
I know, but they have to be considered very carefully.
Is it not possible that this will all disappear in a few years' time if we are in the Common Market?
Will the Minister reconsider the position?