Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming before us. The key issue at the heart of this debate relates to whether we should set targets. I am of the view that we cannot set targets unless there is a proper alignment of policies throughout our entire national framework. We are informed that agriculture, transport and industry are among the main contributors of carbon emissions. We have put in place ambitious targets under Food Harvest 2020 in respect of food production and exports in order to assist the country's economic recovery. I read an observation on a blog in recent days which indicated that at these hearings only one group - the IFA - has objected to the setting of targets. I was present at the hearings which took place on Friday last and many people from industry, business and other sectors stated that by setting targets we could seriously undermine the national recovery.

We have policies on economic growth, employment strategy and increasing our exports. We need to be very careful about the language we use here because we cannot have it every way. We are facing challenges. Ireland is a very small country. We must play our part in reducing our carbon emissions but we must also consider the consequences of setting the targets people seek. I will give two examples. The amount of stimulus the Kerry Group and Glanbia will create in our economy and the food they will produce to export throughout the world cannot be underestimated. If we are to set targets, we will put that industry and productivity at risk and I am not prepared to support that.

Progress is being made regarding the generation of electricity. In my region and that of the Minister, the south east, Great Island, which was an oil generating station, is being converted by SSE, formerly Airtricity, into a gas generating station. That will be far more efficient and will greatly reduce the emissions for the amount of electricity it produces. We need to speak more about that progress, and that is only one sector. Major progress is being made in other sectors also, and we need to bring the stakeholders along with us if we want to seriously reduce the level of carbon emissions. Will the Minister indicate if any thought has gone into a more holistic approach, and I presume that is the case, in the way we align our national policies to reduce emissions and bring the stakeholders with us?

I will give the Minister three practical examples of the way we are not aligning policies in the current scenario. Various sectors are trying to reduce their carbon emissions but they are meeting blocks along the way. For example, GlaxoSmithKline, a major employer in Dungarvan, Waterford, wanted to install a wind turbine on its plant to reduce its carbon emissions, reduce its overheads and become more competitive, which would help us in our task. It was granted planning permission by the local authority, with very little objection from the local community, but the application was refused by An Bord Pleanála.

We have a hydroelectricity scheme on the Glasha river in Waterford, which will generate hydroelectricity for Merck Sharp & Dohme, again to assist in the reduction of carbon emissions. However, the problem is connectivity to the grid. We can use all the flowery language and talk about the ideology with regard to setting targets but unless we align our policies and make the reforms and changes that are needed, we will not reach those targets.

I come from a place in Portlaw, County Waterford, where 300 KW of hydroelectric energy was produced in the 1800s. Not one kilowatt is being produced from that river now. Perhaps we should look back at the way our forebears operated to understand sustainable living and reduce carbon emissions before we set any target. I would be interested to hear the Minister's comments.