Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Again, I do not disagree with the Deputy. I believe in the cross-city link. There is an opportunity for us to show that we can develop alternative public transport systems that work for the people of the city more than anyone else. Visitors are also critical, of course. We need public transport services, active travel and other measures that allow us to meet the climate change targets. The Deputy is correct, in that the scale of change needed to meet the 50% reduction in transport emissions and to reach net zero within three decades is beyond compare. Doing nothing is not an option. Ignoring climate change is not an option. That is not because of national law or European law, but because of the health, wealth and well-being of citizens in Galway. This will be a better system if we go with low-carbon, high-quality public transport, active travel, park-and-ride and other services. It is not impossible. It is a question of political will at local and national levels. I believe the political will exists across all parties, but now we have to deliver on it.

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