Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

I welcome that the Government is showing some initiative in promoting the use of electric vehicles. When will the task force be set up and who will be on it? How will the Minister determine who will be on it? When will it report with recommendations?

The target of 10% of electric vehicles by 2020 is very unambitious when one considers what is happening in other parts of the world. Israel, for example, is planning for the complete replacement of petrol and diesel-driven cars. Denmark is planning to do the same, as are regions of Australia, but Ireland is still at the stage of setting up a task force.

Is the Minister open to reviewing that target, with the intention of increasing the ambition of Government in the replacement of petrol and diesel-driven cars? It is an initial step but there are also implications for the public transport fleet.

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