Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

SUVs represented 59% of passenger vehicle sales in January and February, which is up from 53% in the same period last year. There were very positive changes in the VRT system two years ago. That system is working to some extent but not as well as we need it to work and the trend is now towards increased SUV sales. It is a matter of physics that SUVs are energy inefficient, whether they are petrol, diesel, or electric. If we are to meet our climate commitments, we have to curb sales of SUVs and fossil fuel vehicles drastically. There are safety reasons for doing so as well. These vehicles are linked with increased pedestrian and cyclist fatalities and injuries. The incremental approach is not working. We need to radically curb sales of these vehicles.

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