Fiach MacConghail (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the delegates for their presentation and their attendance on such a sunny Friday afternoon. The Minister appeared before the joint committee last Wednesday. He has been clear and emphatic that he has almost a disregard for national targets. He is kicking to touch and saying it is the business of the European Union. In a way, it puts the committee's work at a significant disadvantage, because he was not shy about putting across his views. I ask the delegates to comment on whether it is proper for us to adhere to the EU targets set.

One of the Minister's concerns is that the measurement of greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland is not quantifiable, or not sufficiently scientific, and that more work is required on measurement. The submission from IBEC last week was very emphatic that the committee should not recommend the approach taken by the United Kingdom. The IBEC representatives gave a particular example of the fractiousness between that committee and the environment committee. What Mr. Doran recommends seems laudable in principle, but I ask whether it is borne out in the UK relationship. Neil Walker commented in his submission: "For the avoidance of doubt ... such a body must not be modelled on the UK’s Committee on Climate Change, whose relationship with the Department of Energy and Climate Change and with the UK Treasury has become increasingly fractious and ineffective over recent years."