Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The Taoiseach may smirk or nod and so on but it is a serious issue for the people concerned.

Moreover, it is a broader issue with regard to environmental sustainability. The only factor that really has allowed Ireland to come within its Kyoto targets is economic circumstances, the drop in global demand and so on. However, it will come around again and Ireland will be poorly placed to meet the targets set by the broader European Union regarding environmental targets and CO2 emissions. The one area in which Ireland can and must make up some ground is the transport sector. It is a given that Ireland must sustain and develop agriculture because it is at the heart of the productivity of the country in respect of exports etc. Consequently, the transport sector is the area in which Ireland can make radical change in people's behaviour to effect change. This taxation measure put before Members will push the country into reverse in respect of the sustainable environment. It is a highly retrograde step and this is the basis on which Fianna Fáil opposes it.

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