In February I wrote that this government should scrap VRT. The reason was that since car sales would not exceed 80,000 new units and revenue would be no more than €500 million. I also said the trade would lose a further 3000 jobs.
I was wrong, a mere 60,000 cars will be sold yielding a pityful [...]

Date: 16 Apr 2009
As I predicted last February, another opportunity has been missed to rid us of the dubious Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT).
Instead of using a little immagination and protecting jobs in the motor trade and at the same time reducing the production of CO2 what did we get?
An increase in the cost of diesel, [...]

In 2007 180754 New cars were sold The VAT & VRT take for the state was €2Billion
In 2008 146470 New cars were sold The VAT & VRT take for the state was €1.5Billion
In 2009 80000 New cars may be sold The VAT & VRT take for the state might be €0.5Billion.
VAT is about 30% of [...]