Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Tempting as it is to transfer some of the burden to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport – I understand why it might be – there are so many burdens on his shoulders right now, sadly, that I suspect he will not get next nor near the transport sector to address its impact on climate change. It would be helpful if the Minister could confirm the estimate of the SEAI that for every percentage point by which Ireland falls short of the 16% target, the cost to the State in fines will be in the region of €100 million to €150 million. Could he address that? Could he identify in so far as he can – we will be dealing with this in another question – what more he believes he can do in the energy generation sector? Perhaps we will leave that for the next question. Could the Minister address the impact of fines and give us a quantum in that regard? Could he confirm that the responsibility for the impact of the transport sector on climate change rests with himself? The co-operation of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is required, of course, from an overall policy perspective in putting the transport sector into a position in which it can meet its targets.

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