Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

As usual, I do not agree with Deputy Joe Higgins. It has been the success of the economy and the generation of growth and employment which has brought us to this position, not the opposite.

On the growth in transport emissions, we are behind most European countries in car ownership but increased prosperity has brought about increased car ownership rates, one of the main reasons the country is above the target for greenhouse gas emissions that we must meet in the next few years.

Transport emissions pose a particular challenge to this country but they are only one element of greenhouse gas emissions. Seven of the EU 15, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain, are much further from the EU targets than Ireland in the report the Deputy referred to. Our progress is reflected in the emissions intensity of the economy. In 2004, emissions per unit of GDP were only 48% of what they were at the 1990 level, while the equivalent figure in the European Union is 78%. The growth in transport emissions reflects that a significant volume of fuel, petrol and diesel sold for use outside the State is accounted for in our country's emissions.

Our massive investment in public transport under Transport 21 covered the issues the Deputy raised. It is central to putting transport on a more sustainable footing in Ireland. In addition we continue to take measures to incentivise low emission vehicles and bio-fuels. In the budget in December, we announced a rebalancing of vehicle registration tax and road tax.

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