Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In November 2017, my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I committed to working together to ensure that all new passenger cars sold in Ireland from 2030 onwards will be zero emission vehicles. This statement followed on from the ambitious target that had been previously outlined in May 2017 with the publication of Ireland’sNational Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport: 2017-2030 that by 2030 all new cars and vans sold in Ireland will be zero emissions capable.

The reason for such action followed both domestic and international developments. Considering that transport is currently the largest energy consuming sector in Ireland, with the consumption of diesel accounting for 60% of overall energy use in transport, cars and vans have an enormous role to play in the decarbonisation of transport. Therefore, it is imperative that we reduce our dependence on the use of conventional fossil fuels for transport. Internationally, a number of countries have made similar pledges.

Hybrid vehicles have considerably lower carbon and other emissions in comparison with conventional vehicles and, in this regard, I recognise the positive role that hybrid vehicles can play as we transition to a low carbon energy system. However, advancements in electric vehicle (EV) technology are delivering increasing battery ranges, better vehicle choice and falling costs. It is expected that in the coming years EVs will be as affordable as equivalent fossil fuel vehicles. Once this point has been reached, electric and other zero emission vehicles will represent the best environmental solution in the long term for passenger and small goods vehicles.