The speed of development of the public electric vehicle charging network here is out of kilter with Government targets, according to the CEO of Nissan Ireland.

James McCarthy said the slow pace is deterring many motorists from swapping out their fossil fuel car and is slowing the uptake of electric vehicles.

"The Climate Action Plan's ambitious target of 1 million EVs on the road by 2030 is essential if Ireland is serious about meeting its decarbonisation commitments," Mr McCarthy told the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant’s (ACCA) Business Leaders Forum.

"The car industry has an important role to play in supporting research, development and innovation to provide customers with choice and competition but to support this, governments need to take the enabling actions that will make their targets achievable."

"The pace of the development in the public charging network in Ireland is out of kilter with government targets and is deterring many motorists from swapping out their fossil fuel car and is slowing the uptake of electromobility."

Mr McCarthy said the country cannot wait another year or ten years for action.

"The new Government needs to make investing in the public charging infrastructure an urgent priority," he said.

The Head of ACCA Ireland, Caitriona Allis, said that while tax incentives are in place, the lack of physical infrastructure is holding take-up back.