‘Green Party ministers simply out of touch with how real world operates’
Fine Gael Leas-Chathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Councillor Neale Richmond has called on Minister for the Environment John Gormley TD to recognise reality and reverse his daft new policy to prevent tradespeople from using commercial vehicles for occasional personal use.
“This is an example, if one were needed, of how the Green Party has totally lost touch with reality. John Gormley should take his head out of the sand and realise what he is doing. His plan seems to suggest that Gardaí will be asked to police church car parks, school yards, shopping centres and sports clubs to find commercial vehicles being used outside the workplace – what a joke!” Councillor Richmond stated.
“He is effectively saying that plumbers, electricians, gardeners and salespeople need to purchase a second vehicle for all non-work related journeys, hardly realistic and hardly good green policy. If enforced, this new approach could have a massive negative impact on tradespeople at a time when they are on the floor anyway, in the depths of recession.
“The suggestion that the authorities would try to police commercial 4x4s and small vans is ridiculous.
“Tradespeople are the lifeblood of the economy. They have taken a serious hammering during the recession, and the last thing they need is this sort of petty targeting by a Government that has run out of ideas. We need a thriving small business sector to get the economy moving again. Instead of targeting sole traders and SMEs with this type of crazy measure, the Government should be supporting and encouraging them,” the Councillor continued.
“It is clear that the Green Party ministers are simply out of touch with how the real world operates.”