Green Party Dun Laoghaire Cllr Gene Feighery has lashed a local Fine Gael Councillor for suggesting that plans to install electric vehicle recharging points throughout the County should be scrapped.

Cllr Feighery described Cllr Mary Mitchell-O’Connor’s comments as bizarre, considering her own Party is currently preparing a report for a Dáil committee calling for more ambitious targets for electric vehicles and greater infrastructure to support such a move.

Cllr Feighery, who drives an electric car said:

“Dun Laoghaire is leading the way in developing an infrastructure for electric cars thanks to a successful Green Party motion calling for charging points on our streets. Fine Gael’s commitment to electric vehicles is severely weakened by Cllr Mitchell-O’Connor’s statement.

“This is a chance to reduce carbon emissions and noise pollution in Dun Laoghaire. My colleague Minister Eamon Ryan has signed a historic deal with ESB and Renault-Nissan which will see Ireland become a testing ground for electric vehicles. We should take this chance to be at the forefront of a new smart green economy for Ireland.”

Green Party TD for Dún Laoghaire Ciarán Cuffe said:

“I welcome Fine Gael’s report supporting the development of an electric vehicle infrastructure in Ireland but regret that at a local level they are resisting such positive changes.

“Electric vehicles have much lower running costs and are perfect for an urban environment. In tough economic times we should be promoting green enterprise and making it easier for people to travel in a sustainable and more cost efficient way.”