Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 June 2012
529 Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on amending the Motor Vehicles and Duties Licence Act to apply the CO2 emission-based motor tax to all vehicles with certificates and manufacturer accredited CO2 emissions, regardless of when the vehicle was registered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27640/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra530 Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason the CO2 based motor tax is not applied to vehicles with verifiable CO2 emissions registered before 1 January 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27637/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra534 Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will amend the Motor Vehicle Act 2008 to eliminate the discrimination against the eco friendly car (details supplied) which if registered in 2007 is not eligible for the reduced motor tax rate due to its emission free status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26143/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 529, 530 and 534 together.
I have no plans to bring in legislation to change the basis for charging motor tax for vehicles registered prior to 2008 to the CO2 system. The question of applying the new CO2 based motor tax system to all cars was subject to detailed discussion during the debate on the Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Act 2008. Any retrospection would not be possible, as the CO2 data for the pre-2008 car fleet have not been authenticated for business purposes. The cost of any retrospection could be substantial were it possible, depending on how it applied, and could have direct implications for the revenue base of local government. Any loss in revenue would have to be compensated for elsewhere in the motor tax system, or through the taxation system generally.
