Minister Gormley should direct his Ministerial colleagues that State cars should only be used for official functions”
Fine Gael Cork South Central Senator Jerry Buttimer has called on Minister John Gormley to wake up and join the real world saying that the Minister’s new policy is a ridiculous.
“The Greens are now really being flaky on the use of vehicles. This will add to more cars on roads not less as greens want. Now parents will both be on the road adding to rush hour traffic, increasing congestion. What do the greens stand for? Will Minister Gormley direct his Ministerial colleagues that State cars should only be used for official functions? In the interest of fairness and balance he should issue a directive to his colleagues.”
“Trades people throughout Cork are finding it difficult enough to survive because of the recession which was caused by Fianna Fáil and made worse by Green party policies. This latest policy on the so-called Green agenda will further damage Cork’s and Ireland’s economy. Minister Gormley and the rest of the Green Party cannot be seriously trying to implement a policy where thousands of tradesmen will be forced to purchase a separate vehicle for their private use, even though they have a commercial vehicle for their work.“
“This plan will effectively mean that Gardaí will be forced to police church car parks, schoolyards, shopping centres and sports clubs to find commercial vehicles being used outside the workplace. Anyone who is paying commercial tax on a vehicle should use that vehicle primarily for work or commercial purposes. However the suggestion that the Gardaí would try to police commercial 4x4s and small vans is ludicrous.
“Minister Gormley needs to wake up and realise what the realities are in Ireland with regards the real economy. To try and force trades people to buy a second car in these times beggars belief. Minister Gormley needs to withdraw this proposal, and he should get back to concentrating on getting people back to work, rather than making it more difficult for them to survive.”