Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Public transport is the solution in our urban areas but, as the Deputy will be aware, 38% of our population lives on 96% of the land mass, and no matter how much public transport one puts in place, we will not be able to address that issue. We have unique challenges in Ireland and we need unique solutions to them. When speaking about the Revised Estimate yesterday, the Minister for Finance indicated that a Revised Estimate that outlines clearly where we are going with climate action is a significant and very welcome step forward. I expect there will be significant movement when we see that Revised Estimate.

The Deputy is correct that we have not put all the money in place to achieve our 2030 targets, and no Government can ever spend enough money on that. It requires taxation and regulatory changes and I fully accept that should happen. However, the price of oil has increased from approximately $50 a barrel this time last year to $84 or $85 a barrel now. Projections are that it will be $100 a barrel by the end of the year. Now is not the time to hike those taxes. We need to make sure that that type of level and trajectory is maintained into the future. I will take that up directly with members of the Oireachtas joint committee. I have taken it up directly with the World Bank and I think we can find a mechanism to do that.

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