Car Rental Council of Ireland

Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Transport

Intent: To draw urgent attention to the European Commission's legislative proposal on clean corporate vehicles.::To highlight the damage this legislation, if forced on the car rental industry, would cause to the car rental industry and the regional tourism industry in Ireland.::1. Ensure that the upcoming Clean Corporate Vehicles legislation excludes the car rental sector.In this regard, to actively support the position of Belgium on the CCV.

Methods: Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Seán Canney (Minister of State), Department of Transport; Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Transport; Noel Grealish (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (MEP), European Parliament; Barry Andrews (MEP), European Parliament; Seán Kelly (MEP), European Parliament; Billy Kelleher (MEP), European Parliament; Maria Walsh (MEP), European Parliament; Nina Carberry (MEP), European Parliament; Cathal Crowe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brian Keegan (Special Advisor), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Emer Currie (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Barry Ward (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Barry Cowen (MEP), European Parliament; Barry Heneghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brendan Smith (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Danny Healy-Rae (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; David Maxwell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eileen Lynch (Senator), Seanad; Frank Feighan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Gareth Scahill (Senator), Seanad; Gillian Toole (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jerry Buttimer (Minister of State), Department of Rural and Community Development; Joe Neville (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Clendennen (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Paul O'Shea (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Linda Nelson Murray (Senator), Seanad; Malcolm Byrne (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Maria Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Manus Boyle (Senator), Seanad; Mark Duffy (Senator), Seanad; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Cahill (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Healy-Rae (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Mike Kennelly (Senator), Seanad; Noel McCarthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Noel O'Donovan (Senator), Seanad; Pa Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Padráig Mac Lochlainn (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter 'Chap' Cleere (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; PJ Murphy (Senator), Seanad; Regina Doherty (MEP), European Parliament; Seán Kyne (Senator), Seanad; Timmy Dooley (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: To draw urgent attention to the European Commission's legislative proposal on clean corporate vehicles.::To highlight the damage this legislation, if forced on the car rental industry, would cause to the car rental industry and the regional tourism industry in Ireland.::Focus on the enabling conditions, particularly charging infrastructure and affordability measures, that will allow us to meet our transport emission targets, as has proven successful in other European nations. We agree with the previously stated Irish Government position, as outlined by Minister of State Canney at the European Transport Council in December 2025, that we should avoid a ‘one-size-fits all’ approach and should exclude the rental sector from mandates.

Methods: Lobby dayPhone callMeetingEmailInformal communicationLetterVirtual Meeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Simon Harris (Minister), Department of Finance

Intent: As Ireland transitions to zero emission vehicles and the Department considers the restructuring of motor taxation in the light of this transition, consideration be given to avoiding the repetition of the car rental VEM anomaly when the taxation of ZEVs is finalised. ::That the Department consider the grant-aiding of ZEV purchases as an interim measure to overcome the current significant gap between the Total Cost of Ownership of ZEVs and the equivalent internal combustion cars for car rental companies.

Methods: Letter

Politician(s) lobbied: Billy Kelleher (MEP), European Parliament; Regina Doherty (MEP), European Parliament

Intent: To seek an amendment that would reduce fraud risks and limit crime under Art. 5 paragraph 2 of the proposed legislation by adding specific criteria that would effectively exempt vehicle rental from the obligation to accept cash in specific circumstances.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Seán Canney (Minister of State), Department of Transport; Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Transport; Noel Grealish (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (MEP), European Parliament; Barry Andrews (MEP), European Parliament; Seán Kelly (MEP), European Parliament; Billy Kelleher (MEP), European Parliament; Maria Walsh (MEP), European Parliament; Nina Carberry (MEP), European Parliament; Cathal Crowe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brian Keegan (Special Advisor), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Emer Currie (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Barry Ward (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Alan Dillon (Minister of State), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Laura Mannion (Special Advisor), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Declan Hughes (Secretary General), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Intent: To draw urgent attention to the European Commission's proposed and then published legislative proposal on clean corporate vehicles.::To highlight the damage such a mandate, if forced prematurely on the car rental industry, would cause to the car rental industry and the regional tourism industry in Ireland.::Focus on the enabling conditions, particularly charging infrastructure and affordability measures, that will allow us to meet our transport emission targets, as has proven successful in other European nations. We agree with the recently stated Irish Government position, as outlined by Minister of State Canney at the European Transport Council , that we should avoid a ‘one-size-fits all’ approach and should exclude the rental sector from mandates.

Methods: Event / ReceptionMeetingEmail

Politician(s) lobbied: Paschal Donohoe (Minister), Department of Finance

Intent: Reinstate the essential VAT equalisation measure removed in 2019. But thistime, targeted towards lower-emission VRT bands.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Robert Troy (Minister of State), Department of Finance; Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Transport; Noel Grealish (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Seán Canney (Minister of State), Department of Transport; Cathal Crowe (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pa Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jack Chambers (Minister), Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform; Paschal Donohoe (Minister), Department of Finance; Peter Burke (Minister), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Pearse Doherty (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pat the Cope Gallagher (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Padráig Mac Lochlainn (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Charlie McConalogue (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Charles Ward (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Dara Calleary (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Alan Dillon (Minister of State), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; Kiera Keogh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Paul Lawless (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Rose Conway-Walsh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Marian Harkin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Frank Feighan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Kenny (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eamon Scanlon (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Martin Daly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Fitzmaurice (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Claire Kerrane (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Noel Grealish (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Connolly (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mairéad Farrell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Hildegarde Naughton (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Albert Dolan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Louis O'Hara (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Peter Roche (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Niamh Smyth (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brendan Smith (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; David Maxwell (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Matt Carthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Cathy Bennett (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Timmy Dooley (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Joe Cooney (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Donna McGettigan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Norma Foley (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Norma Foley (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Danny Healy-Rae (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Healy-Rae (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Cahill (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Niall Collins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Richard O'Donoghue (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Patrick O'Donovan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ryan O'Meara (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Lowry (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Murphy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mary Butler (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Aindrias Moynihan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Michael Moynihan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; John Paul O'Shea (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Noel McCarthy (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; James O'Connor (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Christopher O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Colm Burke (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Pádraig O'Sullivan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Brian Keegan (Special Advisor), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Laura Mannion (Special Advisor), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Declan Hughes (Secretary General), Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Intent: Reintroduce the essential VAT equalisation measure removed in 2019. But thistime, targeted towards lower-emission VRT bands. ::Resist outright the European Commission’s proposed commercial fleet EV purchasemandate. ::That Government ensure that there is sufficient grid capacity and a national network of fast-charging points to facilitate the sustainable electrification of the car rental fleet.::Introduce a fiscal measure to make battery EVs commercially viable for car rental fleets::Use the huge leverage Government has with incumbent insurers to deliver:Reductions in liability premiumsIncreased risk appetiteAccelerate efforts to attract more liability underwriters into the Irish market.::Removal of the passenger cap at Dublin Airport

Methods: MeetingEmail

Politician(s) lobbied: Emer Currie (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas

Intent: That Government would consider the introduction of a grant scheme to assist car-share and car-rental operators in acquiring ZE vehicles.

Methods: Email

Politician(s) lobbied: Robert Troy (Minister of State), Department of Finance; Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Transport; Noel Grealish (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Seán Canney (Minister of State), Department of Transport

Intent: That Government would pursue meaningful insurance reform leading to reduced liability premiums. In particular, that they would initiate a public, transparent and rigorous review of the Judicial Council’s recommendation regarding a near 17% increase in personal injury awards.

Methods: EmailMeeting

Politician(s) lobbied: Seán Canney (Minister of State), Department of Transport; Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Transport; Noel Grealish (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Cynthia Ní Mhurchú (MEP), European Parliament; Barry Andrews (MEP), European Parliament; Seán Kelly (MEP), European Parliament; Billy Kelleher (MEP), European Parliament; Maria Walsh (MEP), European Parliament; Nina Carberry (MEP), European Parliament

Intent: To highlight a proposed legislative initiative as part of the EC Industrial Action Plan for the European Automotive Sector, which includes a plan to Decarbonise Corporate Fleets, in which the mandatory purchase of zero-emission EVs by car rental fleets is being actively considered. ::To highlight the damage such a mandate, if implemented prematurely, would do to the car rental industry and the regional tourism industry.::That the imposition of a premature and damaging BEV mandate on the European car rental fleet be resisted by Ireland.

Methods: MeetingEmailPhone call