A €9 monthly transport pass would help lower household bills and climate emissions.

That's according to the Labour Party, which is calling on the Government to introduce the 'climate pass' for public transport.

It is holding its think-in in Co Wexford ahead of the Dáil term.

Party leader Ivana Bacik told The Hard Shoulder 'radical' ideas are needed.

"Let's be radical, let's be creative.

"We've called for the introduction of a €9 per month climate pass, that will enable everyone in Ireland to travel anywhere across the country for free on public transport."

Passengers at O'Connell Street Luas stop in Dublin, 26-01-202. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews

Such a project would follow an idea from Germany, which saw monthly tickets priced at €9 all summer.

"It's modelled on the German measure, introduced this summer, hugely successful.

"It took out 1.8 million tonnes of climate emissions".

She said while not everyone can use public transport, it should be incentivised for those who can.

"Clearly it's not a panacea, and clearly there are people who will still need to use private transport means.

"But we're conscious that certainly public transport isn't an option for everyone, but where it is we should really be incentivising people to use it.

"Even if the Government were going to say 'We're just going to do this till the end of this year', that itself would have a huge impact on household budgets and on our climate emissions.

"It would cost, on our calculations, about €150 million for three months - and we're saying that would be a worthwhile investment", she added.

Main image: A Leap Card being held against a validator. Picture by: leapcard.ie