Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It does have to be reviewed constantly to ensure there is no overlap or false synergies.

On the issue of the 51% targets, they are challenging beyond compare, as I stated, because transport emissions have been increasing historically and the distance travelled has increased. We could go further with electric vehicles but that would require incredible change in terms of purchasing habits. It is being considered. I recently had a meeting to examine that option but it is very challenging and ambitious. Similarly, in the context of increased usage of biofuel, biodiesel has land use implications which bring real difficulties. In the areas of freight and haulage, there is no obvious immediate alternative fuel to the diesel systems and so on that are currently being used.

The other difficulty with transport is that it takes time to effect change. Land use patterns are set and that is why it is so important to get housing and transport integrated now so that we meet the 2050 target, whatever about the 2030 target. In terms of meeting the 2050 target, we have looked at a variety of issues such as bringing down speed limits as a way of being more energy efficient. I will be honest; the initial research relating to that measure has indicated it would be of limited benefit in terms of the emissions reductions it would deliver.

That brings me back to the core message, which is that it is about reducing the overall demand for travel. What has happened during Covid may well help in that regard. Even though commuting only accounts for a quarter of overall journeys, if there is a 30% reduction in commuting because people are working from home after Covid, that accounts for a good chunk and a real saving as well as providing a benefit to people's quality of life in terms of them not being stuck commuting.

It also comes back to being really ambitious on active travel and a switched modal shift. I absolutely believe that is possible. If we created a safe route network for schoolchildren to walk or cycle to school, that would reduce the 30% of morning rush hour traffic made up of children being driven to school. If we really went at that issue, it would benefit everyone. It would benefit parents as they would not be stuck in traffic and it would make kids healthier. It would make for a far more pleasant local environment with much better air quality and significant health benefits. My sense is that it is an issue that does not divide us. There is broad cross-party support for the investment we are making in active travel, so-----