asked the Minister for Local Government if he will consider a reduction in the tax rate on cars which are four, five or six years old provided they have a certificate of mechanical fitness as is recommended in the EEC proposals for an infrastructure tax.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Car Tax Rates.
15.
A reduction in the tax rates on cars on the lines referred to by the Deputy is not a feature of EEC infrastructure tax proposals. Apart from this fact, I do not propose to recommend any such reduction.
Is the Minister aware that when cars reach a certain age it is usual for insurance companies to put levies of 10 per cent to 20 per cent on them regardless of their road fitness? Although some of the larger cars might be safer on the roads than the mini-type, would the Minister not consider it a good idea that there would be a tax reduction according to horse power, age and other considerations?
I would not.
In the light of the £27 million robbery perpetrated last night by the Government on the Irish motorist——
The Deputy is bringing in extraneous matter which is not relevant to the question.
——is it the intention of the Government to give any relief at all to motorists along the lines of the question asked by Deputy Lemass?