John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government launching the new vehicle labelling system which applied to all new cars at the point of sale from 1st July 2008. The Government introduced changes to Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and annual motor tax for new cars registered on or after 1st July 2008. Both taxes are calculated on the basis of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from vehicles rather than engine size.

The Revenue Commissioners have announced the results of the recent major national crackdown on Irish VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax) offences, which they carried out in late March and early April and resulted in the seizure of 276 vehicles.

The number of vehicles challenged during this period was 3,256,of which 658  were found to be non-compliant, with 276 seized for non-payment of VRT due.

The amount of VRT at risk, in these cases, was EUR1,404,591. Revenue has,  to date, received payments of €351,045 and collected penalties of  €118,323 in this regard.

These amounts do not include the VRT voluntarily paid at Vehicle  Registration Offices (VROs) in the course of the operation. There have been  reports of increases of VRT declarations at VROs.

Warnings were issued for the remaining 382 (13 in respect of illegal  plates), to be regularised where immediate seizure was not warranted.

These provisional figures reflect the increased volume of vehicles being  purchased in Northern Ireland.

During the operation which concentrated in border areas, Clones, Dundalk,  Letterkenny as well as in Cork and Dublin, Custom officials received  strong support from the Garda Síochana.