Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations which were quite informative and well explained. I agree with Deputy Stanley that the failure to put in place 2050 targets or objectives at global, EU or member state level hollows out the Bill and reduces its strategic impact on Irish environmental policy. It is a step back and is disappointing. We have always portrayed ourselves as an environmentally friendly country wishing to embrace the global movement in this regard.

To summarise the Bill, grandiose terms, challenges, opportunities, obligations and mitigation have been mentioned, and it has been said that cost efficiency should be the theme running throughout. Ireland's vision to 2050 has also been mentioned. We will have a 12 month timeframe to finalise this and afterwards will be assessed every seven years. The witnesses spoke about how Departments can apply specific visions to their policies. Is the timeframe for Departments the same as it is for implementing the Bill? An expert body will advise on the process and there will be an annual report and review of our international commitments. The expert body will also have periodic reviews with more reporting to Dáil Éireann. Will it report to this committee?

Aside from this, the EPA presentation mentioned the urgency of action required. The NESC mentioned specific objectives which must be enshrined and, to be fair, makes suggestions on mechanisms which can be put in place for this to be achieved. Will these mechanisms form part of the policy which will emanate from the various processes which have been put in place under the heads of the Bill? What cost analysis has been carried out in this regard? Costs will be involved in establishment and implementation but a cost benefit may accrue. Has any cost measurement being done on what the State might derive from implementation?

Will the witnesses provide specific details on the timeframe for the Bill to be published, brought before the Houses and approved? Is it possible to have just one report per annum thereafter which would include a report to this body, being an all-party committee? Only two years ago an all-party committee produced a Bill which went to the Government which included targets for 2050 and objectives specific to Ireland and cognisant of other international targets.

What has changed so drastically in the past two years that an emission of this nature has been inserted in the Bill? Nothing has, or else I have not heard of it.