Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is correct in stating that greenhouse gas emissions from transport increased 165%, from just over 5.17 megatonnes in 2005 to 13.72 megatonne equivalents in 2006. As the Deputy rightly said also, however, those figures are a consequence of our economic success. So many people are now staying in Ireland, whereas when I started out in politics people were emigrating. We have experienced huge growth in the economy and as a result, rather than barely having one car, people now have two or three cars per household. All these factors of our economic prosperity have given rise to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

The Government is aware that if we continue at the current rate we could be 265% above the 1990 emissions. Everyone in this House has bought into cutting those emission rates. The sustainable transport and travel plan to which I referred is designed to examine those matters. In the discussion document, we have tried to outline frankly and fully where we are going as regards transport sector emissions. It is not a pretty sight from the viewpoint of health and quality of life, particularly for city dwellers. Measures will have to be taken and some of them will not be palatable for everyone but those issues must be faced and I look forward to having the Deputy's support in doing so.

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