New report to show Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions up 130% - O Dowd

·        Ireland's pollution growth 6 times higher than EU average
·        Worst record on transport pollution growth in the union

Fine Gael Environment Spokesperson, Fergus O Dowd TD, revealed that a new EU report out on (Tuesday 28th March) will show that, between 1990 and 2002, Ireland s greenhouse gas emissions from transport increased by 130%, six times the EU average.

Deputy O Dowd added that the report's findings highlight the lack of the importance attached by the Fianna Fáil/PD Government to the use of alternate energy, such as bio-fuels, despite their beneficial economic and environmental impacts.

When it comes to pollution growth from transport, there is nobody in the EU that is worse than Ireland according to the report Transport and environment 2005: Facing a Dilemma by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

This report, will show that between 1990 and 2002, Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions from transport increased by a massive 130%, compared to an average of 22% across the entire EU.

While an increase in a country's greenhouse gas emissions is to be expected with economic growth, the results in the EEA report are a damning indictment of this Government s attitude to the promotion of alternative energy, particularly bio-fuels. This phenomenally large increase could have been minimised over the last nine years if Fianna Fáil had pursued policies that promote bio-fuels but they have steadfastly refused to do so.

Last November, Fine Gael launched our Future Energy strategy that outlined several achievable policies including:

·        Reducing emissions from vehicles by establishing a system of energy efficiency labelling for vehicles and rewarding those that are awarded a higher rating with a reduced rate of VRT.
·        Creating a market for bio-fuels by legislating for all motor fuels to include a blend of fuel from renewable sources. All petrol sold at filling stations will include a 5% bio-ethanol mix and all diesels would contain a 2% bio-diesel mix.
·        Working towards making all public service vehicles run on bio-fuels.

In light of the EEA report s findings and the collapse of the Irish sugar market, due in large part to Government incompetence, it is almost criminal that Fianna Fáil will not pursue an energy agenda underpinned by bio-fuel usage. Fine Gael in Government will do this so that Ireland can reap the economic and environmental benefits.