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

On the question of the definition of low-carbon targets, we have defined it as an ambition to have near-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 in the case of energy, buildings and transport, as well as carbon neutrality in the case of agriculture. That is the working definition we are using. I refer to Deputy Humphrey's suggestion.

We will be establishing the expert advisory council before the end of the year. We are considering the fiscal council template and we want the body to be independent and not captured by anybody. Its role will be to give independent information to everybody. That is a useful approach.

As I stated, this is challenging Ministries that have difficulties, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. Solutions are not easy to find in these Departments, in particular. Through the Cabinet committee process, chaired by the Taoiseach, we have agreed since last October that the Ministers can now come up with their own policies with which to meet the targets. Responsibility used to fall on my Department, but there is now a whole-of-government approach. It is very important that the model be robust, cost effective and deliverable within the stipulated timeframe. The year 2020 will not be long coming around.

With regard to black carbon, I agreed with Minister Atwood in Northern Ireland at the end of April in the run-up to our informal Council meeting that we would have an all-island study on the elimination of black carbon from the island over a three-year period to combat air pollution and protect the environment. The study will commence shortly. We have given industry sufficient time to phase out the bad stuff, including smoky fuels, and replace it with alternatives. I am glad to report that a company has been established in Foynes in County Limerick that has sought to establish a new facility to create alternatives to black carbon products. One hundred and forty-two jobs will be created over a period of two or three years to coincide with the policy decision we have made. That is positive and it shows that the green economy can work very effectively in regard to such a policy decision.