Government in U-turn on commercial vehicle threat

THE Government has gone into reverse gear regarding threats to drivers of commercial vehicles used for school runs and other non-business journeys.

Despite his department issuing fresh instructions to motor tax officers that owners of registered commercial transport must sign a declaration pledging not to use the vehicle for domestic purposes, Environment Minister John Gormley insisted such drivers should not fall foul of the law for activities such as travelling to church, or shopping.

Mr Gormley said the restrictions were aimed at drivers like those of “high-end jeeps” who manipulated their vehicle’s tax status to reduce annual levies from €2,000 down to €286.

The Green leader said it was “nonsensical” for critics to claim he had ordered a crackdown as strict regulations had been in place for the past 18 years. It is nothing to do with people doing things fairly. It is to try and catch people who are doing things unfairly.

“There was evidence that people were actively fixing their cars in this way,” Mr Gormley told RTÉ.

Mr Gormley admitted in the past he had been ferried in fellow Green minister Eamon Ryan’s commercially registered van and that such occasional trips should not bring people into conflict with the law.

“I think we need to use our discretion here. Clearly the guards have better things to be doing than telling someone if they are bringing a kid to school in a van,” he said.

The row exploded after an assistant principal officer in the Environment Department sent out the directive to officials reminding them of the restrictions on commercial drivers.

“It came to her attention – and she acted quite properly – that there was evidence that people were taxing their cars in this way. There has been no new legislation,” Mr Gormley said.

The minister denied he was urging gardaí to turn a blind eye to domestic uses, but stressing they should use their “discretion”.

“I have no evidence of gardaí setting up check points to catch people with a set of gold clubs in the back,” he added.

The minister also defended his practice of claiming “turning-up” expenses when he was an opposition Dáil deputy.

Oireachtas authorities said there was no case to answer after receiving a complaint about Mr Gormley’s €200,000 expenses bill between 1997-2007.

Part of the complaint centred on payments of €143,151 in “turning-up” expenses for days such as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

A spokesperson for Mr Gormley said the minister recalled working on such occasions.

Mr Gormley also denied he was opposed to the Poolbeg incinerator in his constituency because he was a “Nimby” (not in my back yard).