Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There has been a definite shift in the public consciousness over the past year about moving into that space. People are talking about if they could afford an electric car in the morning and there was certainty about being able to plug in at home. It takes the myths away. Many people would then purchase electric cars. We are talking about active travel, including walking and cycling. That is great. With the best will in the world, not everyone will be on bikes, walking or on public transport. A certain percentage of the population will use cars, including carbon-emitting cars. Some €260 million a year is €1.5 billion in four years. It is a serious amount. I would not like the car to be seen as the troublesome relation. We need to get the troublesome relation to change its ways. That means going from fossil fuels to electric. How can we assist people in doing that?