Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)

Yes. There are a number of issues I wish to highlight in the context of our emissions targets under the Kyoto Agreement. We have a responsibility to our European neighbours in respect of this matter and to future generations in Ireland and throughout the world that will be obliged to live in more difficult conditions. We must do what is good for the environment.

We are dealing with this matter in the wrong way. We are tinkering around with taxation but we have failed to examine the cause of emissions. I refer to the transport system. The way railways here have been neglected is nothing short of a disgrace. We do not encourage people to transport goods by rail. The Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, will be familiar with the mines in County Tipperary which transport what they produce to Cork by road. When planning permission was granted in respect of these mines and others throughout the country, those developing them should have been asked to transport what they produce by rail. There is a great railway line from Dublin to Cork. Many railway lines throughout the country have either been closed down or are not as busy as should be the case. There is major room for improvement in rail infrastructure.

It is time the Departments of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Transport and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government came together and adopted a position on transport, particularly heavy goods vehicles. Any number of trucks use our roads 24 hours a day and pump emissions into the atmosphere. The goods these vehicles carry could be moved much more efficiently by rail. We do not take this matter seriously. If we are to be successful in the area of reducing emissions, the Departments to which I refer must come together and draw up a plan to make our transport system more efficient.

Deputy Fleming referred to noise emissions from motor cars. I cannot but agree wholeheartedly with what he said in that regard. No matter where one goes, one will come across small cars that make enough noise to blow one's ears off. The position relating to such cars must be regulated.

Many people throughout the country are obliged to travel to work but they would not have to do so if they had access to broadband. This would reduce the number of cars on the road. However, the roll-out of broadband has been extremely slow and many towns and villages do not have access to it. That is unfair.

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