Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
182. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to progress plans in the Green Party's transport policy to regulate advertisements that glamourise unsustainable modes of transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13727/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra183. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport what action he has taken, including by liaising with his Cabinet colleagues as appropriate, to restrict advertisements that are misleading with regard to the impact of motoring on the environment, on urban congestion and on road safety; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13728/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra184. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will support a ban on advertising of new fossil-fuelled cars, in order to reduce the demand for unsustainable modes of transport in line with transport and climate policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13729/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 182 to 184, inclusive, together.
Achieving our emissions abatement targets in transport will require transformational systemic and behavioural change with improved communication and engagement actions identified as a key pillar of our decarbonisation pathway. Under the Climate Action and Sustainable Mobility Public Engagement Strategy (due to be published shortly), the key objective is to strengthen the social contract between the public and the State for sustainable transport action through an inclusive programme of communication and engagement at national, regional and community level. The importance of communication and consumer awareness campaigns has also been highlighted as a key pillar under the National Demand Management Strategy - "Moving Together – A Strategic Approach to the Improved Efficiency of the Transport System in Ireland" – approved by Government for public consultation on 27th of March.
The regulation of car advertising was recognised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its sixth assessment report as a policy that can have a major influence on mitigative capacity. In its 2022 report, Redesigning Ireland’s Transport for Net-Zero, the OECD also highlighted the need to enhance communication efforts to address car-centric mindsets, and that industry car advertising ‘may undermine the effectiveness of the Irish Government’s communications strategy in favour of sustainable transport systems.’
In line with these recommendations, a commitment to conduct a review of car advertising and labelling has been included in the Transport chapter of the draft Climate Action Plan 2024 as well as in the Draft Implementation Plan of the Moving Together strategy. My department is expediting this work through on-going consultation with experts and key stakeholders in this field, where potential action on car advertising is being actively considered alongside a suite of supporting public engagement and communications’ measures.
