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30 July 2003: The Department of Finance 'couldn't give a damn' about the safety of cars on Irish roads, the boss of Ford Ireland said this week.

Speaking to Irish motoring journalists in Austria, at the launch of the Focus C-MAX compact MPV, Eddie Murphy said the department was 'only interested in raising money' and had not responded to regular Irish motor industry requests that safety equipment in new cars be considered for a lower rate of VRT (vehicle registration tax).

VRT is levied on everything which a car has at point of sale, and the high taxation is a key reason why at least one other car importer has dropped active safety features which are standard in other European countries.

Mr Murphy said an industry delegation had even managed have a meeting on the issue with one of finance minister Charlie McCreevy's key policy advisors, but no reduction had happened. Indeed, in last year's budget Minister McCreevy extended a higher VRT rate to cars between 1900-2000cc, in order to fund a E30 million shortfall in balancing the nation's books.

"And I wouldn't hold my breath in relation to next year's Budget either," the Ford Ireland MD said. "In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he increased VRT in some way further."

	July 2003 - Brian Byrne
Irish Govt 'couldn't give a damn' about safety 30 July 2003: The Department of Finance 'couldn't give a damn' about the safety of cars on Irish roads, the boss of Ford Ireland said this week. Speaking to Irish motoring journalists in Austria, at the launch of the Focus C-MAX compact MPV, Eddie Murphy said the department was 'only interested in raising money' and had not responded to regular Irish motor industry requests that safety equipment in new cars be considered for a lower rate of VRT (vehicle registration tax). VRT is levied on everything which a car has at point of sale, and the high taxation is a key reason why at least one other car importer has dropped active safety features which are standard in other European countries. Mr Murphy said an industry delegation had even managed have a meeting on the issue with one of finance minister Charlie McCreevy's key policy advisors, but no reduction had happened. Indeed, in last year's budget Minister McCreevy extended a higher VRT rate to cars between 1900-2000cc, in order to fund a E30 million shortfall in balancing the nation's books. "And I wouldn't hold my breath in relation to next year's Budget either," the Ford Ireland MD said. "In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he increased VRT in some way further."	Eddie Murphy
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