TRUMPET CALL | 53
Letter to the Editor Open questions to the Minister for Transport, Environment & Climate Action This year our company, Wm Cyril McGuinness, celebrates its 30th anniversary in the road transport business. Suppose it’s not bad for a lad that left school at 14 to work on a farm. That is where I got my love of nature and the environment and also being taught by my father and his before him to “leave the world a better place than you got it.” With this frame of mind, I must ask Eamon Ryan, the Minister for Transport, who is also the leader of the Green Party, the following questions: Why were so many chances lost to make change and improve the environment? Why, without an alternative refuelling infrastructure in place, is there such a high penalty for using Low Emission Vehicles (LEV) like Euro 6 diesel powered trucks? Without the proper infrastructure for Natural Gas/Electric/Hydrogen, there will never be uptake by the masses. Yes, some hauliers are using CNG but in fairness, they are large operators who took a punt on this new fuel by finding the resources necessary to have their own filling points - and fair play to them. But small fleet operators are dependent on service station providers. Taken from that is that the Climate Change Advisory Council would be thinking that the Government must reward fuel stations that offer Natural Gas/Electric/Hydrogen as well as the two fossil fuels on sale and penalise refuelling stations that don’t. This, I believe, would drive real change. There is very little point in offering a grant to buy an alternatively powered truck if you can’t even refuel it around the country. This has been the case up until now for CNG, although there are more refuelling stations coming into service. And as for Hydrogen, we are at least a decade before we see such powered trucks in any numbers on Irish roads. For us it’s simple “Hobson’s Choice” take it or leave it. Personally, my choice is to keep changing, keep investing, moving the fleet from Euro 5 to Euro 6.
It’s time Eamon Ryan answers the That’s all I can do because of a lack of question on why some get off scot-free. I proper infrastructure. rest my case! Back to the last Budget, two things jump off the page - The absence of an Best Regards, accelerated Capital Allowance for LEV William Cyril Mc Guinness (Euro 6D/E) is a lost opportunity for the Government to introduce the safest and P.S. I’ve just listened to an interview with the lowest emission vehicles onto Irish Eamonn Ryan on the radio. He commented roads. Also, the Carbon tax doesn’t care that Ireland has joined up with the if you run a diesel truck from the last alliance against Gas and Fossil fuels. I century or a brand new one. To Illustrate know that our Government is anti-fossil this, I have a 1989 classic tractor-unit fuels, but the question is why are they now only used for shows and charity giving a grant for Natural Gas Powered runs. It produces more harmful emissions trucks, with little or no infrastructure, than our 15 Euro 5 and 6 trucks put and on the other hand now demonising together, yet the carbon tax is the them? Just what source of power does same, thus not encouraging anyone to he want us to use? I can’t see any drivers upgrade. using rickshaws! It’s very simple, the The second matter of concern may change is far too slow, This is because of be controversial. Why, if the haulage lack of infrastructure, and without it there sector is now paying €200,000 a day won’t be change. on Carbon Tax and €720,000 in Excise or Duty? This is All-Star Transport Training a mind blowing Company of the Year 2021 €335m a year to the Exchequer or around €900,000 a day. Why, oh why, are Transport Manager CPC the airlines simply Weekend & Full-Time Courses available at: tax free and carbon tax free on their Dublin Full & P/T (Green Isle Hotel) fuel usage? I think Cork (Silver Springs Hotel) the airline industry should and must Limerick (Kilmurry Lodge Hotel) pay their fair share, Galway (Connacht Hotel) Wasn’t it the French Government that Tutor: Tony Hynes - Transport Industry bailed out Air France Business Person of the Year 2021 on the caveat they 35 Years Successfully Delivering The Transport Management CPC will pay the Carbon “This course changed my life” Gary D. Tax? So the question “Tony made this course very easy” John O’B. I wish to pose to the “Outstanding course” Laura C. Minister through Fleet Transport All Modules Driver CPC magazine is - why Available Weekends - Weekdays - Evenings should one sector Book Online: 24/7 - www.cpc.ie of transport that’s keeping the country alive and functioning pay €335 million, while another sector pays Net Zero?
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