Mr. Paddy Carroll:

To start with the issue of the ESB charging for the infrastructure and the electricity, it has set out one charge package with which EV owners and drivers are unhappy because they must pay 30 cent per minute at the fast charger, which makes a full charge cost approximately €9. We met the ESB last Monday and it has stated its intention to bring out other packages. We have been urging our points of view as to what type of packages there should be on the ESB.

It is going to look at that issue and meet us again. Therefore, it is in the pipeline, but it is a setback at this stage when we are trying to promote EV. However, it is a company that must make money and the infrastructure must be paid for. We do not mind paying for it, but it must be reasonable and help to promote EV, not take six steps backwards.

On Nos. 2 and 3, it involves the county councils, some of which are very pro-EV. I have a list of county councils that will allow us free parking while we are charging our vehicles, while others have stated we have to pay for parking. Therefore, there is no joined-up thinking. It does not cost anybody any money, not even county councils. The ESB will paint the charging bays for ecars free of charge. Dublin City Council is one of the worst in this regard. It is only in the past month or so that it has given permission for some spaces to be painted. Dublin is an EV-unfriendly city. I was here two weeks ago and had to drive around to find a charger. The committee could instruct it to implement the statutory instruments in place which are not being implemented.