Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

This is where I strongly disagree with the Minister. He proposes that Ireland should follow the more ambitious countries that have a vision of a shorter time period for the transformation of their transportation fleet. The main driver behind this is emissions. Emissions coming from the transport sector since 1990 have increased by 168%, and are continuing to increase. As regards the area the Government has responsibility for in terms of emissions, and for which it has made commitments to the European Union, some 80% of that comes from transport and agriculture. We are not going to make the type of gains that are needed in agriculture and therefore we need to make them in transport. Some 10% of our fleet by 2020 will reduce carbon emissions by 400,000 tonnes, and that is it. What is required is a far more ambitious approach. Ireland should take a leadership position in this instead of the usual "wait and see" approach, while allowing other countries to make ambitious investments.

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