Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming in. Under head 5, can they explain the reduction in emissions under the national roadmap, or annual review, every five as against every one years? I agree with the witness who said that the expert advisory body should be more similar to the Fiscal Advisory Council and I ask him to elaborate on that. If similar terms of reference were used for the expert advisory council, would he consider that would strengthen the Bill under head 9, section 7? Does the witness consider that it would be useful to use wording to the effect that the expert advisory body should publish a report under subhead 5 within ten days beginning from that day the Minister receives the report, thereby transposing the terms of reference from the Fiscal Advisory Council to the expert advisory board, and that we should go through the Bill and accordingly change the language used?

There are targets set out under head 3. Would the witnesses recommend that targets for 2050 should be inserted in the legislation? If they would, will they outline their vision for the Irish economy in 2050? Ireland will emit 11 million tonnes of carbon in 2050. Agriculture currently accounts for the emission of 9 million tonnes of carbon. In terms of the 80% target, that would mean there would be a reduction in carbon emissions down to 11 tonnes, which would mean there would be no carbon emissions from power generation, heating, business and transport if the agricultural sector was allowed to constitute the full 11 million tonnes. What is the group's vision of the of economic mix we will have in 2050? If a target for 2050 is set in the legislation, we must have a vision of what that economy will be.