Licensed hauliers feel they are very exposed to a no-deal Brexit. The budget for 2020 should not make the situation worse for the sector. It asks that we do not increase carbon tax or at least that we provide for its offset for licensed hauliers. The sector also asks for measures to be introduced to reduce fuel costs for licensed hauliers by doubling the rebate level allowed under the diesel rebate scheme from 7.5 cent to 15 cent, reducing the floor at which the rebate starts from €1 to 85 cent and not increasing motor tax, VRT or other taxes on the licensed haulage sector.

The first thing to say about hauliers is they are very well served by the representative body and its president, Verona Murphy. The Deputy is right to say that potentially Brexit will create significant disruption in a no-deal context. I encourage all businesses linked to the haulage sector to take the advice available to them to ensure their paperwork is in place for the consequences of a no-deal Brexit and the changes in trading conditions that would flow from it. We are working closely with the sector but with regard to decisions on the budget the Deputy will have to wait until next week to see.