Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

This country has far exceeded EU recommendations on recycling levels. In the recent budget we introduced a new tax break of 50% on vehicle registration tax for electric cars, which builds on last year's initiative for hybrid cars. We have abolished excise duty for kerosene and liquified petroleum gas used in home heating and introduced an enhanced rural environment protection scheme. We brought in new support for bio-energy crops and a continuation of bio-fuels relief. Additional funding, amounting to €20 million, will be introduced between now and 2009 for the very popular green homes initiative. Thankfully, thousands of people, including myself, have applied for that grant. I do not believe in gestures but, rather, live my life this way because we all have a personal responsibility, not just in this House, but also outside.

See this speech in context