Fiona O'Malley (Progressive Democrats)

I apologise to the Minister for my absence during his contribution. I heard the IFA president's remarks on radio this morning. The problem of food security, to which he referred, gives pause for thought. As Senators will agree, energy security and climate change are the major political issues of our times. Having attended the negotiations on climate change in Bali, I have come to realise that climate change is a cross-sectoral issue. I study how it is being addressed in an international context and appreciate the breadth of its scope.

I was glad to see such a strong Irish contingent from the non-governmental and governmental sector travel to the Bali conference to listen, learn from, partake in and inform the debate because climate change is a considerable challenge. Through the conference I have come to appreciate the international context within which these issues are being addressed. We must learn from international developments. Ireland and many other parts of the world are only beginning to wake up to the critical importance of climate change.

We must climate proof all policies, particularly in local government and planning. I heard it argued that the decision by Dublin City Council to institute a high-rise policy would destroy the city. The question we must ask is whether the approach to development in Dublin in recent years was appropriate. It has created an urban core surrounded by a greater metropolitan area which adds significantly to our transport emissions. The development of areas such as Clondalkin, Lucan and many towns on the periphery of the city extending into counties Kildare, Louth and Meath has created an urban sprawl.

While everybody wants to live in a house with a front and back garden, forward planning dictates that we reconsider the low-rise approach to development in all our cities and urban areas. Given the figures on CO2 emissions for Ireland, specifically the increase of 160% in emissions in the transport sector since 1990, and the trajectory remains upwards, it is clear that reversing current trends presents a major challenge. Rather than tinkering at the edges and focusing on bio-fuels, vehicle registration tax and other issues, important as they are, we must concentrate on fundamental questions. Development must not take place in a manner which forces people to use cars to travel to work. We need a complete change in attitude in this respect.

The substantial decrease in CO2 emissions required of us will demand changes in our lifestyles and it will be difficult for people to come to terms with the changes required. Cities in other countries have already taken action. Given that few residents of cities such as Paris and London have cars, why should people living in Dublin have cars? It may be understandable to have a car given the sprawl around the city, the absence of a good, integrated transport system and the flexibility offered by a car but why on earth do households have two or even three vehicles? This trend is utter madness and it is not sustainable, as is clear when one tries to park outside one's home or in the city centre.

Parking is restricted in Sandycove where I live on the periphery of Dublin. While residents objected at the time the restrictions were introduced, this policy is an example of proper planning. We must regulate the way people use their cars. With the support of the local authority, a new car rental scheme has been introduced in the council area of Islington in London. As there is no parking space for people who own private cars the council has responded to the problem where cars are needed to move people or furniture. Given the way we live it is not plausible to have a no-car city. The council has responded to the need by supplementing car rental. It is a good scheme that is worth looking at. I am not sure if the Minister is familiar with it. The cost is not prohibitive. One can pick up and return the car easily. It is all about stopping people feeling they need to own a car. That is what we need to do. How many of us have cars that often sit idle for ten days at a time or are used infrequently? We need to think about such issues and such responses.

I am adamant that public transport does not need to be delivered by the public transport bodies. We need to have an open attitude to licensing. It is all about the use of buses and bringing additional services to the public. One hears all too often that it is Dublin Bus that should get the buses. I do not necessarily agree with that sentiment. We need to licence people to provide services. Some private operators provide a terrific service to the airport. Every time one is out and about on the roads one sees it. Recently I saw the Swords Express which takes people very quickly from Swords to Dublin. It is wonderful to see all these private operators and I would like to see more of them. We do not need to be dependent on one company.

The Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security heard an excellent contribution from the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, and, in particular, on the agriculture sector. It is a big problem and one we have not touched. We heard of research that is being done, and we are going to find out more about it, into grasses and encouraging farmers to move from cattle into the growing of grasses that will reduce emissions in the agriculture sector where rates of emission are at an alarming level. It is the one area where Ireland can make a huge impact fairly quickly.

Farmers are reluctant, as are most people, to change practices in the absence of security and knowing this will be maintained. Apparently the rural environment protection, REP, scheme has been reviewed but it has not taken account of climate change. As the Minister will have heard at a meeting we attended during the week about hedgerows and such issues, it strikes me that the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has not been central to our planning and thinking about how we can, in an inclusive and joined-up way, tackle climate change and reduce our CO2 emissions. I would like to see that being brought in.

If the REP scheme has been reviewed and climate change has not been part of its criteria we need to open it again if that is possible because everything needs to be climate change proofed if we are serious about the issue. In regard to our target of 3%, we are proceeding in the right way and I am confident the Minister will bring us along the path easily.