Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank our speakers. I have questions for each of the Departments. The first question is on transport. I am glad to hear that the just transition has been factored in. As Deputy Alan Farrell said, there is no second-hand EV market as such. Many people who are driving diesel cars are doing so because they were previously incentivised to buy those cars.

My concern is around the lock-in of the SUV market, given that 55,000 SUVs were sold in 2021, and especially the number of SUVs that have been purchased in Dublin. I appreciate that many of those who have big vehicles live in rural Ireland and need them for work, but I am particularly concerned about the use of these vehicles in urban centres. What sort of policy measures is the Department looking at to stop the purchase of these SUVs? Not only are they more dangerous on the road and less aerodynamic, but there is also the issue of their weight. Even if they are electric, a large amount of power is required to charge them up. They also damage the road infrastructure, which then has a cost in terms of public funding. Will we look at taxation measures to disincentivise people from buying SUVs, whether they are electric or non-electric? There is also the issue of their marketing. Is there any scope for banning the advertising of SUVs?

The other question I have for the Department of Transport relates to the bike-to-work scheme. Everybody will agree that it is a great scheme. It has facilitated many people to get into cycling. However, it is designed regressively so that the higher your income, the more benefit you get from it. It also excludes children, students and anybody who is on social welfare payments. Is there scope to amend that scheme so that it is more inclusive of people who might want to take up cycling but, for whatever reason, are not in paid employment?

My next question is for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is my understanding that the second five-year carbon budget looks at the addition of feed additives to reduce methane emissions. However, it will not be until the third carbon budget that the Department predicts that we will have pasture additives. What are the implications for the message we send out that Ireland has grass-fed, pasture-based farming if we are going to be relying to bring down those emissions on food additives which would require indoor feeding? How do we square that circle for the second five-year budget?

My final question is for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The officials mentioned in their opening statement that the Minister must take regard of a number of different factors under section 6. One of those is the particular social nature of agriculture, and another one is the need for climate justice and a just transition. How does the Department do that balancing act of ensuring all of those factors are taken into account when deciding the emissions cuts?