Transport

Government dropping 2030 aim for ban of fossil fuel cars an ‘acceptance of reality’, say executives

Stephen Gleeson, managing director of Hyundai Ireland, said the proposed ban had always been a stretch, and that 2035 would still prove difficult

The Department of Transport said that despite the dropping of plans for the 2030 legislation, it would still be striving to have all new car sales electric by that date. Picture: Getty

The government dropping its commitment to ban all fossil fuel car sales by 2030 is just an “acceptance of reality”, Irish car dealers have said in response to the move.

A commitment to legislate for a ban on the sale of all fossil fuel cars by 2030 was included in the programme for government in summer 2020. However, last year the European Union told the Irish government it would not be able to legislate on ...