Dublin should follow in Paris’ footsteps of taxing SUVs, says Moynihan

Labour Senator and climate spokesperson Rebecca Moynihan says that Dublin should follow in the footsteps of Paris in placing taxes on SUVs that attempt to use the city centre.

Paris found itself in the international headlines after mayor Anne Hildago, herself a member of the French equivalent of Labour, asked Paris voters if SUVs should be taxed.

Parisians voted in favour of taxing SUVs more than €18 per hour for parking in the city centre, and €12 for parking elsewhere.

It is estimated that the tax will bring  €35 million into Paris’ coffers every year.

Moynihan said “with SUVs gaining popularity, their disproportionate contribution to pollution demands immediate attention.”

“Government urgently need to address the issue of car bloat in Irish cities. Parisians’ recently voted to triple parking costs for SUVs, and Government should outline what it would take to follow suit.”

“The surge in SUV ownership exacerbates our environmental concerns. We know from the Climate Change Advisory Council that ambitions have not been matched by actions. As it stands, we have already reached 50% of our 2030 emissions ceiling. This indicates a critical need for robust measures to curb car bloat.

“We in Labour have been advocating for an SUV tax akin to France’s model, factoring in weight and size.”

Labour’s proposed levy would be integrated into existing Vehicle Registration Tax and annual motor tax systems, would deter oversized vehicle ownership and could be used to mitigate their adverse impacts.

“We know that Eamon Ryan is committed to making our urban streets safer but we also need to put a light under the rest of Government to support him in this.

“In light of Paris‘s initiative, I’m calling on Government to emulate the French approach and implement heightened parking fees for SUVs in urban areas. This, together with Labour’s proposed SUV Tax measure, would incentivise sustainable transportation choices and mitigate the detrimental effects of car bloat on our environment.”