Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This proposed amendment seeks to shorten the timeframe for the production of the first national mitigation plan from 18 months after enactment of the Bill to just six months. Again, I appreciate there are voices both inside and outside this House which are concerned about the timeframe for the production of the first national mitigation plan, having regard to our pressing mitigation targets up to the year 2020. The original timeframe in the Bill was set at 24 months after enactment. However, having regard to concerns in this respect, the Minister, Deputy Kelly, introduced an amendment on Report Stage in the Dáil to reduce the timeframe to 18 months. I realise a timeframe of 18 months may not be short enough for some. Nonetheless, I consider it is the bare minimum necessary to allow robust mitigation policy measures to be developed and then made subject to strategic environmental assessment and appropriate assessment pursuant to European Union directives, as well as to statutory public consultation procedures. As all Members sometimes are pilloried for not consulting sufficiently, the 18-month timeframe is the minimum. Accordingly, I cannot accept this amendment and again, I call for its withdrawal.