John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I thank Senators for their contributions. The Bill is technical in nature, providing the legislative framework to facilitate the transfer of non-national roads and national vehicle driver file functions from my Department to the Department of Transport. I understand Senator Buttimer must leave the Chamber but I will answer his points. The transfer of functions will be effected by a transfer order made by the Government. Drafting of the order is well advanced and it will be made to coincide with the commencement of the Bill.

I assure Deputies that management of the local government fund will be the responsibility of my Department. The full proceeds of motor tax and driver licence fees will continue to be paid into that fund.

Some of the points raised by Senators were not related to the Bill but were interesting points nonetheless. Some of the Senators who raised these points are not in the House but I will address the points. The method by which we raise money is one that I inherited. We raise money for local government through motor taxation. Many reports have been produced on the funding of local government. Reform can only come about if local government financing is also addressed. I have set up a consultative committee that will report to my Department on the Green Paper, which will be published after Christmas.

The point was made that raising motor tax is not an environmental measure. It is a revenue raising issue in the first instance. We must reform vehicle registration tax and this must be based on emissions. I have not spoken publicly on this matter besides speaking to one journalist in Limerick but these matters are not new. The programme for Government states that vehicle registration tax will be aligned to emissions and we seek the same system for motor taxation. I realise it is a crude instrument. As ratings for cars are related to emissions we will have an emissions-based system. Most people realise that this is necessary, particularly when we speak about climate change and the need to reduce CO2 emissions.

Senator Donohoe referred to incentivising different modes of transport. We can only do so when these modes are in situ. His point is valid and we must invest in public transport and better services. We have seen the major success of the DART and the Luas so we know people have an appetite for good quality public transport.

Senator Norris referred to the safety of cyclists. I am well aware of that issue because I cycle to work each morning. I know the dangers involved and I am aware we need a much better cycleway network if we are to encourage more people, especially children, to use their bicycles. Cycling is not attractive to many people, especially those who have not been on a bicycle for some time. People will not take up cycling if they believe it is dangerous. A cycleway network is essential. My aspiration is to put in place a network similar to that which exists in Copenhagen where 33% of people use bikes to travel to and from work. That is the sort of network that is required.

It seems inevitable that the price of petrol will rise. If we had in place the alternatives suggested by Senators then I believe more people would move away from using their cars.

Senator O'Malley referred to the reinstatement of road surfaces. Her point in that regard is valid. There is an absolute lack of co-ordination among utilities. My predecessor had on hand the road openings Bill, which disappeared from the list of promised legislation. I have been searching the files to see if I can discover it because it would make sense to encourage co-ordination among utilities. It certainly makes sense to have in place good quality road surfaces. The latter should be properly reinstated subsequent to any works being carried out.

Senator Buttimer stated what is envisaged in the Bill would act as some sort of slush fund for the Minister for Transport and his Department. Those are not the words I would use. However, it is important that we should have systems in place and that there should be a real delineation among Departments. It makes absolute sense to have transport functions under one Department. Under the Bill we are ensuring that one Minister will have responsibility.

The points made about the National Roads Authority and the number of agencies that are in place are interesting, especially in the context of accountability. We need greater accountability in the Houses. The overall position regarding the role of agencies appears to be undergoing a reassessment. An increasing number of Departments are becoming aware of the position in this regard and it will be interesting to see how matters evolve.

I sincerely thank Senators for their contributions and I again commend the Bill to the House.