Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)

That would do it. I was at the SEAI energy show and I was very encouraged. I believe a new economy is growing and more people are coming along. The Deputy is correct; several companies from Wicklow with which I was very impressed were present. The company to which the Deputy referred is from Delgany. This is the type of work we wish to see, involving small operations and creative people who seek to do something on the back of this. Who knows what way it will develop?

When we launched this initiative, I referred to the experiences dating back to when Henry Ford rolled out the first commercial combustion engine vehicles. An industry evolved around Detroit on the back of that development. His first business failed, but his first partners went on to establish Cadillac. His second business shared the storage space with the Dodge brothers who went on to form another car company. I believe there is an opportunity to develop electric vehicles here and I wish to see companies emerging to try out new products and services in conjunction with electric vehicles, including the services that would get Deputy Sheehan up from west Cork in an efficient, clean and safe manner.

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