John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

Practical measures can be introduced. Cuba, an impoverished country, decided that in three months every household, business and Government office would have long-life light bulbs. That is an example of a practical measure that could be introduced.

Vested interests, however, are at work in this area. When Lord Mayor of Dublin, I visited the then Governor of California, Pete Wilson. At the time there was an exhibition of ZEVs, zero emission vehicles. When I congratulated the governor on this, he informed me that it was not the future. Reformulated gasoline was the future and the electric car went by the wayside. The website www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com highlights the role played by the automobile industry and the Exxons. These, and the ESB, are the interests the Minister must face up to when examining how the country can be greened. Until a few eggs are broken to make an omelette, it will never happen.

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