And to make matters worse, the Taoiseach has reaffirmed his support for the Galway City Ring Road, a project that will perpetuate car-dependency, increase car volumes, and increase CO2 emissions.

#GCRR #Galway

https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2023-01-31a.32#g85

Sean Canney TD gives an excellent summary of the damage that is being done by the uncertainty surrounding the Galway City Ring Road and the frustration at the lack of progress in developing the public transport network.

#GCRR

https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2023-02-02a.293#g367

The Tánaiste, in response, notes that the current congestion and volume of cars is "contributing negatively to climate change targets" but thinks that a road which will increase the volume of cars and the CO2 emissions is "essential in terms of the growth and development of Galway city"

It is clear that neither Fianna Fáil nor Fine Gael are serious about climate action.

The Climate Action Plan is not just a report that can be quietly shelved - it is the law.

#ClimateEmergency #GCRR

A reminder also that Deputy Catherine Connolly's motion for a new transport vision for #Galway was passed by the house without amendment.

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste are not only advocating for a project that does not meet the legal requirements for climate action (as set out in the Climate Action Plan they themselves produced), but are also ignoring the express wish of Dáil Éireann.

https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2022-11-23a.34#g35

The Taoiseach again in the Dáil yesterday reaffirming his support for the Galway City Ring Road, he now claims that it will not "necessarily be bad in terms of the climate" despite the applicants' own documentation stating expressly that it will increase CO2 emissions by 37%.

Every expert in the field tells us that the transition to electric cars won't be enough on its own to meet climate targets and that the transition won't happen fast enough.

#GCRR

https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2023-02-08a.45#g69

Even the farmers think building new roads is a bad idea. If we don't meet transport emissions targets, it will be agriculture that has to make up the difference.

#GCRR

https://www.farmersjournal.ie/each-road-means-more-cows-culled-735852#:~:text=Thankfully%20for%20our%20purpose%2C%20Transport,to%2035%2C800t%20by%202039.