Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I wish the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, and the Government delegation of all parties well in Copenhagen. I hope the expectations that have been rather managed, a bit like the budget, will be more successful in Copenhagen than they have been in the budget.

I wish to dwell on one aspect in the time allowed. Fine Gael supports a low carbon society but we believe we should be in a position to make greater strides in our objectives than has been the case to date. The 3% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that was part of the programme for Government in 2007 is clearly not being met and the target has now been extended to 2020 to cover some of the blushes on those matters. Our party has published a radical document that would help the Minister to achieve those objectives if he could get the Government's support for doing so.

The climate change agenda should be an opportunity for the country. In addition to meeting our greenhouse gas emissions targets, it should provide an economic and employment stimulus. The Fine Gael document, New Era, which the Minister has read, is a clear set of proposals that would assist him to provide jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I regret that the budget tinkers around the edges of climate change matters. I welcome the retrofit scheme but I do not see any major imprimatur for green technology proposals that have been outlined in our document. A low carbon economy is an opportunity for a competitive economy. Those countries that can make themselves more environmentally sustainable will have the edge over others.

The Government's record on transforming the economy into a low carbon economy has not has its objectives met with any degree of success to date. Recent reductions in emission have only been achieved because of a reduction in our national output. I note that some of the Minister's spokespersons and statements have been indicating that to reduce the national herd would make a major contribution to reducing our agricultural emissions. I do not see any similar impetus being made in terms of implementing Deputy Coveney's proposal on electric vehicles. The Minister did not refer to it in his speech.

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