Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach. To add to the comments on RTÉ programming, I especially want to shout out for "Mooney goes Wild", which is the only show solely focused on biodiversity. It is understated but extraordinary. We all know the national participation that "Dawn Chorus" gets. It is an extraordinary show. Long may it continue to air, perhaps more in prime time. I am just giving a shout-out on that.

My question for Doctors for the Environment is in relation to the initial point of banning fossil fuel advertising. I will take up where Senator Dooley left off as regard trying to find a balance and bring people with us. There absolutely is merit in what is being suggested. Everyone present has alluded to restricting fossil fuel advertising. Senator Dooley's point was that the key challenge we have is bringing the entire population with us on this journey. I do not like using that word but that is kind of the point. For example, we alluded to the banning of tobacco adverts and the effectiveness of that. In fairness, there is an option when it comes to smoking. A person can either smoke or not smoke. Unfortunately, this State in particular has to date failed to provide options for sustainable travel, especially in places like west Cork, where I live, where the only way one can get anywhere in most cases is by car. There is the option of an electric vehicle now. We know EVs are more expensive. They are incredibly effective. I am a big supporter of EVs and their roll-out. However, we are not there yet.

I guess that is what I am coming to. There is the point that we are an island nation and we like to travel. One of our best assets is that we love to look outside Ireland. We are not inward looking, we like to explore and learn about other cultures and places and we fly to other places. What Senator Dooley was alluding to is that, in many of these instances, the alternatives are not there yet. We should be way further down the line in providing alternatives, especially in terms of public transport. EVs should be far more widely available and at a more affordable cost. I disagree slightly with the Cathaoirleach, Deputy Leddin, who has a thing about vehicles in general.