Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

We received the discussion document last week. Some of the ideas contained in it had already been submitted to the Department as part of the sustainable transport and travel action plan and we shall consider each one carefully. Many of the issues mentioned by the Deputy are not directly within our remit. Following the 500 submissions we received we are endeavouring to engage with other Departments, some of which will be directly involved, such as the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Department of Finance and others. We aim to produce a document that will highlight the best of these ideas. The Deputy is right to say that the benefits of the electric car are very attractive from an environmental point of view and the matter will receive careful consideration.

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