The Government is being accused of ignoring hauliers' ideas in the drive to reach net zero. 

The Irish Road Haulage Association wants Express HGV lanes brought in at toll barriers to save its members time and petrol. 

They have estimated that tens of thousands kilos of carbon would be saved at Dublin's Port Tunnel alone if trucks were allowed to use an express lane.

Irish Road Haulage Association President Ger Hyland said this would drive down carbon emissions and help the environment. 

“45,000 kilos of carbon [are] created by trucks just stopping going in and out of Dublin Port alone every single day,” he said. 

“We could cut that 45,000 kilos of carbon in the morning by allowing trucks to use the express lane.” 

Articulated lorries drive off a ship carrying haulage containers at Dublin Port. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Mr Hyland pointed out that stopping and starting a vehicle uses a significant amount of energy. 

“For example, there’s 9,000 trucks that pass through the Port Tunnel every day,” he said. 

“Each time we stop, we’re emitting between one and two litres of diesel to get back up and running again.” 

In 2023, 21% of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions came from the transport sector. 

To reduce that, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has suggested the Government do more to encourage people to buy EVs through greater public subsidy.

Main image: A freight lorry. Picture by: PA.