Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

The fact that our CO2 emissions per head are the highest in the world and that we are almost totally dependent on imported fossil fuels for energy suggests we have lost the right to promote the country as the clean, green land we like to see it as. We have also lost all moral standing on the issue. We like to see Ireland as a country that defends the future of the planet and criticise others for not making the same effort as us, but the reality is that our efforts amount to zero in the past ten years. As a result, we have lost a significant opportunity for growth.

Our transport system and emissions have been the largest contributors to greenhouse gases in recent years and the increase in our use of energy, but the Government has effected virtually no switch to public transport. Therefore, it is to this area we must look to help cure the problem. In terms of emissions, the transport sector is one of the main creators of the problem. The solution will not be easy, as many opportunities to deal with the issue have been lost in the past ten years. We must now look at a focused and forensic approach to dealing with the task and try to make the process as painless as possible. However, make no mistake about it, there will be pain involved.

If the economy is to grow and we are to sustain and grow current living standards, we must increase mobility for both people and goods and increase trade. We could save energy if there was no growth in the economy or trade, but we want to sustain growth. Therefore, we must use every opportunity to reduce our dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels. We must be imaginative in what we do. For example, my colleague spoke about the Minister's Lexus which is probably just a showpiece. The reality is that thousands of public sector workers, including ourselves, are on mileage allowances which should be rebalanced to encourage the use of smaller fuel efficient cars, just as VRT is being rebalanced. It is not being rebalanced, however, on the eve of the general election, as the change will not take effect until the following year, which makes no sense.

Mobility will be crucial. The challenge is to decouple mobility, growth in the economy and sustainability. A significant change could be made by effecting a switch to public transport, something the Government has failed to do. There is now greater than ever dependence on the private car, leading to huge growth in CO2 emissions as a result of the congestion endemic in every city. Fine Gael policy is to require mandatory blending of bioethanol and bio-diesel, which would reduce our fossil fuel dependence overnight, without requiring modification to cars. A 5% change in the level of dependence on fossil fuels would be an enormous achievement. Deputy Naughten mentioned other Fine Gael policies to encourage growth in the supply of biofuels. The requirement for a mandatory blending of biofuels would kickstart production and create a guaranteed market, thereby reducing our dependence on a volatile and insecure oil supply. It would also reduce emissions. When coupled with the abolition of excise taxes on biofuels — also proposed by Fine Gael — the transition to such fuels could be painless for consumers. The tax advantages need not cost the State anything and could eventually be removed as petrol becomes scarcer and more expensive and biofuels become more available.

It is more important to encourage public enthusiasm for change than to impose carbon taxes or anything else. Public enthusiasm needs to be harnessed. While carbon taxes may be essential, we do not need to introduce them now. We do not need to take that route until we have exploited all the potential incentives to change behaviour and encourage a move away from fossil fuels. We should not let ourselves be bogged down by arguments that we cannot produce the necessary biofuels here. I do not entirely agree with Deputy Durkan in this regard. I see no harm in importing biofuels if we cannot produce them here. It would be better to import biofuels than oil. We should let those Third World countries that have a comparative advantage in the production of biofuels get on with production. The absence of production here should not be a barrier to a switch to biofuels for our cars.

There is huge enthusiasm and environmental concern for a change in our lifestyles to a more sustainable use of resources and a move to renewable energy sources. This is an advantage for any Government which wants to change behaviour. However, the Government must make it easy for people and lead by example. We saw how easy it was to do this when the Government gave people the opportunity to recycle and they took to it like ducks to water. We now recycle infinitely more than we did five years ago. When a good public transport system was provided, the Luas, the people again took to it in the same way. There is public enthusiasm for change, but it is up to the Government to harness it.

Like many other Deputies, I plan to put a jeep on the road to carry my posters etc. around for the general election. I looked for a source of biofuel to use in my diesel jeep for the few weeks it would be on the road and the closest place I could get it was in Athboy, County Meath. This is a small effort on my part, but the scarcity of outlets shows how difficult it is to take even a small step and how far we are from that to which we pretend to aspire.

The Government must not only make change easier for the public, it must also lead by example. We fall down significantly in this regard. If we are serious about changing the culture and public attitudes, the Government must practise what it preaches. It operates huge fleets in the public service via the local authorities, hospitals, the fire brigade service, semi-State companies and public transport companies, but has no embedded green procurement policy. There was a great fanfare about the pilot programme in Dublin Bus to switch to biofuels which turned out to be for five buses and is ongoing. It has never been extended to the fleet and I do not know if it ever will be. The Minister announced that he is involved in a pilot programme for one hybrid bus. That is laughable. Hybrid buses have been operating all over Europe for years. It is hard to take the Government seriously when it publishes policies on this issue.

Although the motion calls on the Government to take various actions, there is little advantage in that because we will not see any great change of attitude. The next Government, which I hope will come from this side of the House, will ensure public transport procurement policies will be green. It will be embedded in every arm of the public sector to ensure that its procurement policies are green-proofed.

See this speech in context