Mr. Gerry Murray:

On the low-carbon economy, I would like to add to the equation an opinion concerning road freight expressed before the Committee of the Regions about 12 months ago. One of the proposals is that the polluter pays principle applied to waste and water services be applied to road freight. Essentially, the European Union intends to tax road freight off the road onto rail. That is why there is significant grant aid for low-carbon transport initiatives such as rail services. The European Union is moving towards being a low-carbon economy by 2050. We also need to make sure we will be there. Every product we buy has a carbon footprint. Climate change is kicking in. It is not abstract; it is going to impact on us in the coming decades and we need to be ready to deal with it.

On populism, I note that people in this country do not even know the fundamentals of local and national government. Civics was once taught in the classroom and people knew how government worked or did not work. When they went into a polling booth, they could make an informed and enlightened decision. I meet third level graduates whose lack of knowledge of the fundamentals of local and national government might appal committee members. Last week I encountered a third level graduate who was very annoyed about a county development plan that was up for review. His group made 300 submissions, while the opposing group sent four. He thought it was like a game of football and that his team had won 300:4. I could not explain to him statutory obligations under government and EU policy, etc. That shows a lack of information, from which populism grows. I could not convince him that it did not work that way. There is a job of work to be done in the education system across Europe. We are facing a very serious and significant crisis because a lot of these things are thrashed out on social media and Facebook. Unfortunately, that is what is informing people. There is a job of work for the Oireachtas and all of Europe to do on the issue.