Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

This morning The Irish Times published a table of European greenhouse gas emissions showing Ireland's transport emissions are one from the bottom. Will the Minister agree he has failed to control emissions in this sector and they have increased by 140%? The Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government has failed to meet the Kyoto targets. Its failure also extends to public transport and planning policies and how people get to and from work. There is no metro line to Dublin Airport, the Luas system is not joined up, no rural transport scheme is in place and the existing bus network is woefully inadequate. Will the Minister agree that new and radical thinking is required in the Department and across Government to tackle the failure to meet the Kyoto targets in transport emissions? Ireland is one of the worst European countries in this regard because of the Minister's lack of interest and involvement.

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