Brendan Griffin
Question:66. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if the auto-diesel excise duty rebate relief will be extended to private coach operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57461/12]
View answerDáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 December 2012
66. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance if the auto-diesel excise duty rebate relief will be extended to private coach operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57461/12]
View answer82. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance if, in respect of budget 2013 whereby an excise rebate was announced on diesel for haulage companies to come into effect on 1 July 2013, he will indicate that same applies to passenger transport companies and particularly those involved in the coach and bus operation businesses; if in this context that the rebate definition would have to include the carriage of passengers by a motor vehicle of category M2 of category M3 as defined in Council Directive 70/156/EEC; if he will consider ensuring that the said rebate is extended to bus and coach companies in the forthcoming Finance Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57605/12]
View answer100. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance in view of his statement that under EU law a fuel rebate system may not be restricted to Irish licensed hauliers but would have to be extended to all vehicles intended exclusively for the carriage of goods by road with a maximum permissible gross laden weight of no less than 7.5 tonnes, as well as the carriage of passengers by a category M2 vehicle or category M3 vehicle; if it is lawful now to confine the fuel rebate scheme announced in the budget to goods vehicles only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57740/12]
View answer101. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Finance if permission has or will have to be sought from the EU for the essential users rebate for road haulage operators; the reason that was given for excluding vehicle for the carriage of passengers; if it is now intended to include M2 and M3 category passenger vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57741/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 82, 100 and 101 together.
The proposal to introduce an auto-diesel excise duty relief for licensed road hauliers that I announced in the Budget is confined to licensed and tax compliant hauliers. However, I have received a number of submissions from, and on behalf of, private coach operators seeking to have this relief extended to them. I will consider this proposal in the context of the Finance Bill. I will inform the European Commission when the measure is introduced.