Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. While we might disagree as to when it should be put to the Houses of the Oireachtas, this is important legislation. While it might be the case that the people across the floor are well-meaning, my colleagues on the other side of the House are indulging in a policy of procrastination. They take the view that it is the right thing to do but not right now. The Bill should be before the House today and I support it in this regard.

There is a key message in the Climate Change Response Bill, the main purpose of which is to prioritise the establishment of a national policy on the means and implications of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to establish a national policy position on adaptation to the impacts of climate change. The Bill does not impose any legal obligations on Government to achieve the emissions targets set in the Bill and it allows for these targets to be changed. I consider this to be important. Rather, the principal legal obligation is to develop sectoral and national plans which would take account of these targets and plan towards emissions reductions that safeguard economic development and competitiveness. The terms "economic development" and "competitiveness" are key. The Government is also committed to legislating for a process that allows us to plan for greenhouse emissions reduction and adaptation to climate change. As the Bill makes clear, this must be done in a way that safeguards economic development and competitiveness. It bears repetition. The Climate Change Response Bill 2010 was published on 23 December and a period of public consultation was announced on 24 December which will run until 28 January.

Several players have concerns about the Bill. We must listen to these because they have a pivotal role to play. I am referring to the Irish Farmers Association, the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, Oxfam, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association and others. They hold concerns for different reasons but these concerns must be brought on board. They must be adjudicated on, considered, and, if they have relevance, must be reflected in the final Bill approved by the Houses of the Oireachtas. The concerns of the IFA, IBEC and other bodies, including those relating to the issue of costs arising from the policy set out in the Bill, will be addressed by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as the Bill progresses through the Houses of the Oireachtas and in response to the ongoing public consultation.

I was heartened to hear the Minister of State suggest he would take amendments in this House. I am putting down a marker. In dealing with previous Bills, amendments were refused in this House which went on to be accepted in the other House, something I am not prepared to tolerate. As the Government spokesperson who leads for the Government on this side of the House, that is not acceptable to me as a Government Senator.

There is a response to accusations that the Bill will impose huge costs on industry and agriculture. The Climate Change Response Bill, in itself, does not impose any legal obligations on the Government to achieve the targets set out in the Bill, as I have stated.

The Government agreement to publish a Climate Change Response Bill demonstrates that Ireland takes seriously the issue of climate change, places the development of policies as a priority, is ensuring that these policies are based on sound scientific evidence through the development of sectoral and national plans and engages in appropriate consultation with the players to which I have already referred. Nevertheless, it is crucial that neither this Government nor any future Government agree to legally binding targets that would compromise our economic competitiveness, including the competitiveness of industry and agriculture.

The Government is proposing to make a strong and legally binding commitment to develop a national plan which sets out policies that would achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. The targets set out in the Bill anticipate possible future international commitments on climate change. Contrary to reports, there is no legal obligation on the Government or any future Government to achieve the targets set out in the Bill and there is a provision which allows the targets to be changed. Therefore, the principal legal obligation in the Bill is to develop plans that consider these targets, including sectoral and national plans. However, the Government may decide to recommend alternative targets having considered the economic and other implications of the targets set in the Bill. It is intended that the advisory body to the Government on these issues will contain persons with expertise in agriculture and industry. Accordingly, this does not need to be seen as a threat to these sectors. I welcome this development. I would not support any legislation in this area that excluded agriculture. As a man born and bred in the countryside, I am proud of my rural roots. The agricultural economy is central to the country's success and we must do everything in our power to protect it. This development is an effort to ensure we will be well prepared to meet any proposed future international commitments.

The targets set in the Bill are less onerous than those set in the Bill drawn up by the Oireachtas committee on climate change. An important distinction is that the committee's Bill would impose duties to meet targets, whereas the Government's Bill imposes duties across the system to plan for transition and integrate national and sectoral plans on climate change mitigation and adaptation into all functions of public bodies.