Dáil debates

Tuesday, 27 April 2010

12:00 pm

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

Yes, but it is not providing a national network. We must consider the proportion or the scale of the country. I am satisfied that we will have approximately 2,000 vehicles next year. At that stage, we will have the crucial test bed in place that will allow us to learn how it will work and how to make it work. There are risks attached and there will be difficulties but by learning by doing, we will benefit from it.

Some people asked how we can be certain that this technology will work rather than the range of other technological solutions. One way is to look to every international car company. They are now going electric. The entire Japanese motor industry, most of the American motor industry and large chunks of the European motor industry maintain this is the way they see it going. I do not believe it is such a great risk for a country such as Ireland, which has a very large renewable resource into which we can tap and which has a small scale and a smart grid system. We have everything to gain.

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