Revenue checkpoints are on the rise in Donegal, with 90 taking place in the first three months of 2019.
Donegal has had the highest number of checkpoints compared to any other region in Ireland so far this year.
There were 57 checkpoint operations in Lough, the second highest region, between January and March. In the same period, 45 checkpoints were conducted in Cavan, Monaghan and Longford combined.
There has been a steady increase in Revenue checkpoints in Donegal in recent years, with 141 operations in 2015 and 107 in 2016. The figure doubled in 2017 to 239 checkpoints and rose again to 287 in 2018.
This data was released following a request from Sinead Stewart, Independent Candidate for South Inishowen.
Ms Stewart said: “It’s in clear black and white now that Customs and Revenue are targeting ordinary Donegal people and in spite of having been found in breach of European Law, the trend looks to be increasing.
“The European Court of Justice ruled two years ago that Ireland’s practice of charging the full amount of VRT up front – even if the vehicle was only being leased for a limited period of time – is in breach of EU law.
“Instead of amending the practice as recommended by the ECJ, Customs and Revenue have doubled down on setting up checkpoints and charging the full rate of VRT in Donegal.”
Ms Stewart has also criticised certain sitting county councillors for not taking a stance against VRT and for voting to legalise the use of gaming machines in the Inishowen and Letterkenny Municipal Districts.
She said: “I find it very revealing that as soon as it was thought Revenue was hampering the profits of gaming establishments owners, establishments which harm the ordinary people of the peninsula, councillors jumped into action to save the wealthy gaming bosses’ profits with the argument that it was to ‘save jobs’, jobs which were never really at risk.
“When we first set up the anti-VRT group, certain politicians appeared at the protests and meetings and professed their support. They haven’t mentioned it since then. Why is that?
“Surely every politician’s job is to voice the concerns of the people they claim to represent.”
Ms Stewart has stated she will continue to campaign against VRT at every opportunity, adding “I hope voters think very carefully in the coming local elections about decisions councillors have taken regarding addressing Revenue and slot machines vs their silence on Revenue and VRT.”
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