The cost of motoring has seen huge price hikes over the last couple of years.
The price of second-hand cars has reached record highs in recent times. Not only is this down to a shortage of new cars because of a semiconductor chip shortfall, it is also down to government action.
Previously private buyers were able to purchase ex-DLA cars at some of our local auction houses. These cars were very reliable, always came with a full service history and low mileage. Many an auction night was filled with young buyers rubbing shoulders with car traders trying to grab themselves a good deal.
The DVLA has now prevented these private buyers taking part in these auctions and have stipulated that these DLA car auctions are now trade-only. This in turn is pushing these private buyers instead onto the garage or traders’ forecourts where the same car they could have bought at auction is now two or three thousand pounds higher because of the traders’ premium. The traders are also seeing more demand and thus can push the prices up.
The taxpayer is losing out. Those DLA cars would be getting better auction prices if the number of buyers was not restricted and thus less funds are going back into the government
The cost of motoring is a big part of the overall cost of living crisis. Families can no longer afford to purchase second-hand cars. The government should not be taking measures that puts even more pressure on those badly affected.
JOHN McSORLEY
Belfast BT5
A soft spot for Jim Wells
Now that Jim Wells has left the party that he has been involved in nearly all his life – the DUP – let me reveal that I have a soft spot for him.
In 2005, I worked for the Newry Dundalk Joint Chamber Forum (a cooperation between Newry and Dundalk chambers of commerce). One of the topics that was causing much worry for people around Carlingford Lough was the proposal that a ferry should sail from Greenore in Co Louth across to Greencastle in Co Down.
There was a public meeting held in the Carrickdale Hotel in Co Louth in June 2005 to allow concerned residents and others to share their worries. The best speaker that night was Jim Wells. He stood up and told all: “I am an MLA from south Co Down. Even though my party (the DUP) would not receive many votes around Greencastle, I still thought it was my duty to represent those constituents and express their concerns.”
Mr Wells had driven from south Down up through Rostrevor, Warrenpoint, Newry, through south Armagh and across into Co Louth. One should bear in mind that Mr Wells and others in the DUP led an incursion into Co Louth in the 1980s.
Despite the somewhat long journey across mountains and around rivers into ‘a foreign jurisdiction’, Mr Wells still did it to represent people who would not vote for him. That says a lot about the man. Whatever else can be said about Jim Wells, he believes in public duty.
That says a lot in my book. I have no love for the DUP, but I have a soft spot for Jim Wells for his action that night.
SEANÁN Ó COISTIN
Trier, Deutschland
Political manoeuvring
The juxtaposition of analysis from Newton Emerson and Patricia Mac Bride (March 31) ably demonstrates just how multifaceted our politics is in Northern Ireland.
There is another political narrative, however, that deserves consideration during the upcoming elections.
It can be argued that, through collapsing the NI Assembly, the DUP are trying to gain political advantage by shifting political power away from Stormont to Westminster.
At Westminster the DUP have eight MPs, Sinn Féin seven, the SDLP two, and Alliance one. The only major political party not to be represented at Westminster is the UUP. Is it possible that the DUP’s political manoeuvring is not intended to target nationalists or republicans, but instead to target their unionist rivals in the UUP?
In this game of political chess is the DUP attempting to remove all of the UUP (and TUV) pieces from the political chess board so that the DUP is the only unionist player remaining in the Westminster game?
With no MEPs elected any longer from Northern Ireland, the UUP have lost their income stream from the European Parliament, they do not receive an income stream from Westminster, and if Stormont is replaced by direct rule as a result of the DUP collapsing the assembly the UUP will just be left with an income stream from their local councillors.
If the UUP leader cannot rescue Stormont from direct rule will it be case of UUP RIP?
BERNARD MULHOLLAND
Belfast BT9
Lost voice
I have the symptom of a new disease which is sweeping through whole of the country and is due to reach its peak in the early days of May. Having discussed it with other sufferers, I thought it was time to bring it to the attention of those members of the public who may have this symptom and have no idea what to do about it. The condition has only emerged in recent times but has changed my life by disempowering me. At a very advanced age and having thanked the Suffragettes throughout my adult life for securing my right to vote, I find that I have no-one to vote for in the upcoming election – and I’m not the only voter in that situation. As one of the majority here who wished to remain part of the EU and a believer in the right to life of all human beings, I cannot in conscience vote for any of the candidates on offer in my electoral area. What can I do? I’ve decided to spoil my vote by writing a protest on the ballot paper.
MAIREAD McKEOWN
Belfast BT17
