Increased investment in public transport and low-carbon forms of transport is one of the major proposals in the plan.

The party is calling for fast-track rail projects, which will help Ireland meet EU emissions reduction targets.

The establishment of new bus routes and services in Dublin are also proposed.

Ciaran Cuffe, the party transport spokesperson, said: “Faced with the likelihood of ongoing high oil prices and the certainty of major fines from Europe if we do not begin to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, we must radically and rapidly change our travel and transport activities.”

However, the chief executive of the National Roads Authority, Fred Barry, has recently argued in favour of larger road projects.

Mr Cuffe said this proposal would be “immensely stupid” unless every car in Ireland is converted to electric power in advance.

He claims that the emissions from more car journeys would lead to even greater fines from Europe.

The Green Party recently welcomed the decision of the European Commission to increase funding for environmental improvements in Ireland for six years to 2013.

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