Like my colleagues, I strongly oppose Financial Resolution No. 3 and give grudging respect to Financial Resolution No. 4. Like others in the House, I am a sinner in that I smoke. It has positive and negative aspects. I will not go into all the agitation generated on the other side of the House by smoke and mirrors and new rules and regulations. I hope this measure, when passed, will ease the tension on the Government benches.
I support the views of my colleagues on diesel and petrol. This measure in Resolution No. 3 will seriously damage the competitiveness of the economy. These extra charges are on top of the €3.5 billion which motorists contribute to the Exchequer annually. They will increase the amount by another €245 million. That is without taking into account the revenue generated from parking fees, parking fines and clamping, about which I have tried and failed to obtain information by way of parliamentary questions over the past 12 months. There is no question that the sum of money involved is substantial. These figures should be available to the House but are not, despite my best efforts. It is not possible in our economy to impose the penalties that are now appearing on a regular basis on road transport. We cannot shift everything to the rail service, nor can we fly everything. We must have provision for road transport in the economy. I register my protest and that of my colleagues about this resolution.
