Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Fiach Mac Conghail asked some general questions on our approach to climate change policy. The best example I can give the Senator is that during our Presidency we did an enormous amount of work in completing files in the European Parliament process which were lying around for a considerable period and which we prioritised. We got conclusions on priority substances - water, CO2 emissions on cars and vans, F gases and the emissions trading schemes. All of those files have resulted in a progressive approach towards reducing our greenhouse gas emissions in their own way through the legislative process in the European Parliament without any targets. A whole-of-government approach was taken in terms of what the Government was trying to achieve. We have issues of sustainability and a framework to promote that at international level as well through the sustainable development goals and the millennium development goals, on which a huge amount of progress was made. Council conclusions were reached on those during the course of our Presidency.

I prioritised our future level of ambition on reducing greenhouse gas emissions at our informal Council meeting in April. It might come as a surprise to some people, particularly those in the non-governmental organisation community, that I would prioritise where we go between 2020 and 2030 to develop even greater levels of ambition than those we had between now and 2020 to keep up the momentum in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. I have prioritised in a practical way some of the issues that will be centre stage in the European process in the coming years.

As Deputy Stanley is aware, we do not have legally binding targets in Ireland. We have EU legally binding targets.