Michael Joe Cosgrave
Ceist:167 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the conversion from car duty to vehicle registration tax since the Single European Act, 1991, a former Minister (details supplied) attended a meeting in Austria and received written permission from the EU to change to car duty from vehicle registration tax; if written permission was received for this action; if so, if he will produce a copy; his views on whether motorists have to pay an inflated price to replace their old cars after failing tests due to vehicle registration tax; his views on whether this arrangement is illegal in cases where written permission was not received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3964/00]