Marc MacSharry (Fianna Fail)

With all respect to the Minister of State, I regret that the Minister is not here. Having served with him on the committee, there is no doubt of his genuine passion and commitment for solutions to the most significant question facing us and the generations to come that will inhabit this planet.

I welcome the opportunity to make some comments on the issue. The motion as put down by the Government commends the commitment to the development of a policy. There is broad agreement on the issues, but such is the nature of debate here that the Opposition must put down an amendment. Notwithstanding that, we have started a process whereby great strides can be made in terms of climate change and reducing our dependency on fossil fuels.

Since 1990, there has been an increase of approximately 70% in the number of cars on our roads and with that has come an increase of approximately 160% to 180% in emissions from transport. Transport is now responsible for one third of our emissions. In that regard, there is a significant role to be played in the development of better public transport. I accept Senator Doherty's point on the need for the enhancement of our rail network. If we had a good rail network, more people could use the system. Coming from the west, I think of the proposal to get the west on track. While I acknowledge the Government's commitment in theory to opening the line as far as Claremorris, north of that line is little more than an aspiration. I would like to see a firmer commitment to that. We should look to extending the line into Donegal and make a contribution by encouraging cars off the road.