Ms Barbara Nolan:

I thank the Cathaoirleach. On this issue, we are only carrying out an investigation. We have not stopped importing Chinese cars. We want to have a fair and level playing field in terms of our trading position. This has always been our outlook. We are calling it open and strategic autonomy. We must look at situations where it does seem like things are being marketed in Europe at dramatically different prices and how this can be the case. This instance of EVs is a particular issue.

I know there are voices that ask why we should care about this situation if the European consumer can have cheaper cars and it is China subsidising our green transition in a way. It can be looked at in this way. On the other hand, however, it is not fair to our producers in Europe if huge subsidies are being given in China to allow these cars to be produced very cheaply and then sold on the European market. This is really what we are exploring. No decision has been made about this issue yet. We do not know the outcome.