Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

That reply tells me nothing. It tells me what Sustainable Energy Ireland has done but nothing of the Minister's views. The report by Sustainable Energy Ireland on energy and transport paints a bleak picture for Ireland in a world where oil is getting more expensive and carbon emissions must be reduced. Our energy use has increased by 150% in the past 15 years. Last year it increased by 8%. Road freight has gone through the roof. Not surprisingly under the Minister's management, rail freight has disappeared.

We are facing two major political challenges. Global oil production is about to peak, making it increasingly difficult for Ireland, one of the most oil dependent countries in the world. We have a moral obligation to tackle climate change. This requires radical cuts in emissions. The fastest growing sector for emissions is transport. What are the Minister's long-term plans to cut those emissions and reduce our use of oil? Future generations will look back and ask what were we doing. Were we asleep? Did we read the signs and not plan for the long term?

Why are we not cutting oil use and transport emissions? Our current policies are heading in the wrong direction. This year, not one public transport project will be opened. Instead, the Minister will cut the opening ribbons on a dozen roads. How will we reduce the 8% annual increase in oil use when oil prices are doubling? The Minister's reply gave me nothing in this regard.

See this speech in context