The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been accused of distortion in its finding that the rise in the number of private vehicles on Irish roads is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Tim O'Brienreports.
According to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (Simi), cars account for just 5 per cent of the C02 emissions globally, while the total transport market in Ireland amounts to just 12 per cent.
Speaking yesterday, Simi spokesman Cyril McHugh accused the EPA of "scapegoating" the private car user "in order to avoid the real issues with greenhouse gases which are electricity production and farming. They are the real polluters".
He said the agency figures were based on fuel sales which took no account of sales of fuel to vehicles from the North which, due to price differential in Border areas, was a significant factor. "They are trying to scapegoat people who are already paying a huge amount of tax."
Mr McHugh said 44 per cent of cars had engines of 1.4 litre capacity or less, while 66 per cent of cars were 1.6 litre or less.
He said the motor industry was prepared to play its part in addressing the situation and was responding to the Government's discussion document on making car taxes more cohesive to emissions policy.
The society would be prepared to see taxes change to a use-based tax. This could be achieved by putting "a few cent" on fuel, but he said this would have to correspond with the removal of vehicle registration tax.
He called for the re-introduction of the so-called "scrappage" scheme because of the "huge number of cars" which were now more than eight-years-old. Such a move would allow motorists to avail of newer cars with lower emission values. However, the Department of Transport said such a move was unlikely.
Pat Finnegan of the sustainable development advocacy group, Grian, said total CO2 emissions from transport (including air travel) represented 32 per cent of the State's total.
Minister for the Environment Dick Roche said he noted the emissions data but was not surprised by the figures. While the figures show an increase of over 2 per cent on 2004 to 25.4 per cent above 1990 levels, "these had to be viewed against the background of sustained economic growth in Ireland's economy".
"My department's projections show that, without emissions trading or any additional measures, greenhouse gas emissions in the 2008-2012 period would increase to 29 per cent above the 1990 level, as compared with 23 per cent in 2004."