James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the officials for their informative presentation, some aspects of which are feasible and make sense. It mentions the possibility of a gradual increase in the carbon tax up to 2020. We know that any increase in the carbon tax will lead to increased public transport costs. Bus Éireann and Irish Rail are cutting back on services due to higher costs. It is affecting many areas. We should be designing schemes that encourage people to use public transport. It is very difficult to encourage people to use a system from which services have been withdrawn. In the case of the railway line between Dublin and Sligo, two trains have been terminated.