On the climate action strategy published with great fanfare this week, the Freight Transport Association of Ireland is calling for the Government to recognise the vital role the freight and logistics sector plays in achieving the targets set out in the climate action plan. Commercial trucks and vans accounted for 21% of all transport emissions and 9.2% of Ireland's total CO2 emissions in 2018. While the sector is committed to reducing its environmental impact, it needs the right supports to be put in place by the Government. There is no mention in the climate action plan of a carrot and stick type approach to help and encourage this sector. The Government needs to recognise how vital it is to the economy and the vital role it can play in reducing emissions.

The Government very much recognises the vital role that the haulage and freight transport sector plays in the economy. It is one of the reasons we brought in the fuel rebate a few years ago. We also recognise that the sector will have to make a contribution towards climate action as well because the emissions produced by large vehicles damage our environment. These vehicles also damage our roads due to their weight. Much of this work will have to be driven through technological change, moving to smaller vehicles, which can be electric, and to gas powered vehicles. These are the kind of solutions that we will need to work on.