Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a detailed list of all vehicles owned by his Department here and abroad, including makes, models, engine sizes and emissions labels where they exist; if in each case they have hybrid engines or use biofuels; and if there is a policy of buying low emissions cars when they need to be replaced. [7036/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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At present, there are three vans in use by my Department in Dublin. These are Nissan Primastar vans, each with a diesel engine with a capacity of 1870cc.

In the time available it has not been possible to compile a complete list of the Department's official vehicles abroad. However, I would point out that, since the beginning of 2006, carbon emissions have been taken into account in vehicle purchases made by the Department. And secondly, and in order to take account of the wider availability of new technologies, the Department, at my request, is currently preparing a policy position on the purchase of official vehicles which will ensure that environmental considerations are taken fully into account as existing vehicles are replaced, which is normally done at four year intervals.