No tax breaks for publicans, Ross insists

THERE will be no tax breaks for publicans to encourage them to ferry customers home at night, Transport Minister Shane Ross has said.

His comments contradict earlier suggestions from Fine Gael.

The Irish Daily Mail revealed last month how, following Cabinet opposition to Mr Ross’s new drink-drive legislation, a compromise was reached whereby the minister would look at developing ‘proposals to improve rural transport schemes’ including incentives for publicans.

The Junior Sports Minister, Brendan Griffin, then confirmed he was examining the possible introduction of a tax break for publicans, including in the area of vehicle registration tax.

However, Mr Ross has now ruled out such tax breaks and said that instead, he wants to see publicans and insurance companies hold their own discussions on the matter.

He said: ‘I’ll tell you what I am looking at, I am looking at some means whereby there could be, not tax breaks for publicans, but means whereby we don’t do damage to the fabric of rural social life, which revolves a lot around the pubs.

‘They can get together with the insurance companies and make arrangements themselves, publicans and insurance companies and others, for getting people home after they have had a couple of drinks.’

When pressed on what role the Government would have in these talks, and what exactly such talks would be about, he said he could help by facilitating such discussions.

‘I think they can sit down and make arrangements, for getting together… I would hope there could be some kind of constructive agreement and cooperation between themselves.

‘I am happy to facilitate by bringing them together, meeting them together but we certainly haven’t talked money, no. Let’s see what they come up with. We are not talking about large amounts of expenditure we are talking about common sense.’

He added: ‘The vintners have run an extraordinary strong campaign against our legislation. If they are sincere, let them get together with insurance companies.’

But Minister Brendan Griffin said last month he was exploring a number of measures, including in the area of vehicle registration tax and fuel.

The insurance industry was also called on to provide formal cover for groups that enter into car-pooling systems at weekends.

Mr Griffin said: ‘I want to spend the summer exploring what can we do from a budgetary point of view to assist the publican.’

Cabinet sources have told the Mail that there has been much disquiet about the plans between Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance.