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Written by Irish VRT.ie
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Tuesday, 01 April 2008 15:43 |
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Ireland is on a mission to return to the days of the green green grass of home. With the introduction of the smoking ban, plastic-bag levies, and our non-recycling bin charges, the Government is waving the green flag from Donegal to Dingle. The Irish Government is changing our current VRT system because the affects of transport on the environment are becoming more obvious by the day. Irish consumers can now reduce their carbon footprint, or pay the price of their standard of life.
Affects on the climateClimate change is a factor that must be addressed by every country in the world, and the Kyoto Protocol attempts to do just that. Our Government has agreed to reduce our CO2 emissions to a 13% rise by 2012. According to the European Commissioners we are more on target to reach a 30% rise and therefore will fail to meet the Kyoto requirements. It is up to the Irish Government and nation to modify our current living standards and reduce our CO2 emissions. Carbon Dioxide Emissions
The Government announced the new system in Budget 2008 in December 2007. Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen T.D. stated that the intention of the new CO2-based system was an effort to relate VRT more closely to the environmental policy of the State. The overall aim of the new system is to rebalance the motor market, and reward motorists who choose lower CO2 emitting vehicles, while those choose higher emitters pay more. As a greater engine size does not always mean greater emissions, the new system should result in consumers choosing cleaner cars not smaller cars, thus reducing the national CO2 rate in line with Kyoto Protocol. Until 30th June 2008, the Vehicle Registration Tax will be based on the engine size of the vehicle. This will change from 1st July 2008, as the system will be based on the amount of carbon dioxide that the vehicle emits.
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