Ruairí Quinn
Question:197 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Justice the action he has taken to date to advance Ireland's Green Presidency of the EC Council, as promised by the Taoiseach in January 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - EC Presidency Programme.
The only action coming within my area of responsibility concerns the use of unleaded petrol in official vehicles. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the change to unleaded petrol in the Garda fleet continues with some 640 of the 700 vehicles capable of using unleaded petrol already doing so. Further progress on the conversion to use of unleaded petrol will be made as additional bulk storage tanks can be converted to unleaded petrol, as vehicles which cannot use unleaded petrol are replaced and as the number of retail outlets carrying the fuel increases. All new petrol vehicles purchased for the Garda fleet will be capable of using unleaded petrol and in time the use of leaded petrol by the Garda will be phased out entirely.
All prison service vehicles, with the exception of two, run on lead-free petrol or diesel, which is lead-free, and the only vehicle involved in the service of the courts uses unleaded petrol.
The use of catalytic convertors in all areas under my Department is being considered at present.