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

I thank the Chairman and members for inviting me to discuss the agenda for the next meeting of the Environment Council, which takes place next Thursday, 12 June in Luxembourg. This will be the final Environment Council of the Greek Presidency and it takes place in advance of major changes in the EU institutions in the coming months. In fact, those changes have already commenced with the recent elections to the European Parliament, the eighth Parliament to be directly elected. In the coming weeks, key positions in the Parliament will be filled, positioning MEPs to play a key role in the co-decision procedure which underpins the development of EU legislation and policies.
There are two substantive legislative items for discussion on the agenda next week. The first is an orientation debate on a proposal from the European Commission for directives on a clean air policy package for Europe. The second items is a first reading of a regulation providing for a restriction on or prohibition of the cultivation of genetically modified organisms, GMOs, in member states' territories.
Clean air is an issue I feel very strongly about and to which I have devoted much time and effort in recent years. We have had some notable success in Ireland addressing very severe air pollution problems, which resulted primarily from the widespread use of smoky coal in our cities during the 1980s and 1990s. These emissions still occur, however, albeit at a lower level, and the science now indicates that air pollution, even at low levels, impacts on health. The Environmental Protection Agency reports higher levels of such air pollutants in some of our smaller towns than in our larger cities, where smoky coal and other solid fuels continue to be used for home heating.
We cannot afford to be complacent. Many EU member states are still falling short of agreed EU air quality standards. Here in Ireland, the air pollution guidelines of the UN World Health Organization are not fully being met. One need only recall the threats to human health posed by elevated air pollution events earlier this year in the United Kingdom and France to understand the risks for citizens. Air pollution does not recognise borders and can affect regional neighbours. The risks posed by transboundary air pollution can only be addressed through international co-operation. In this context, under the auspices of the North-South Ministerial Council, I initiated a cross-Border study to consider how best to address residential solid fuel emissions on an all-island basis.
The EU's clean air policy package, unveiled in December 2013, is the culmination of a major review of air policy that began in early 2011. It follows extensive consultations that found broad support for EU-wide action in this area. The content of the EU's proposal was considered by an air science policy forum which I hosted in Dublin during Ireland's EU Presidency last year. The forum considered the most up-to-date scientific research on air pollution and human health and the environment, and this informed subsequent discussion by EU environment Ministers. The package includes a proposal for a revised national emission ceilings directive, with stricter national emission ceilings for five main air pollutants, including fine particulate matter - a pollutant which strongly correlates with health impacts. The proposed emission ceilings for 2020 are broadly in line with Ireland's own national projections, but proposed ceilings for 2025 and 2030 would require further action. In the case of ammonia, from 2020 onward, further abatement measures will be required, beyond those already agreed for 2020. This will present a challenge for the agriculture sector, which is responsible for the vast majority of these emissions and is projecting growth in line with ambitions under Food Harvest 2020. My officials are in ongoing discussion with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on this matter.
The package also includes a proposal for a new directive to reduce pollution from medium-sized combustion plants, with outputs of between 1 and 50 MW, such as energy plants for large buildings and small industrial installations. The proposal also aims to take account of compliance costs, the impact on small and medium-sized enterprises, and keeping the administrative burden at the lowest possible level while at the same time providing minimum levels of protection to safeguard human health and the environment. By 2030, the clean air policy package aims to avoid 58,000 premature deaths. Health benefits alone from the package could save society €40 billion to €140 billion in external costs and provide billions in direct benefits due to higher productivity of the workforce, lower health care costs, higher crop yields and less damage to buildings. It is estimated to have a positive net impact on economic growth.
Ireland enjoys cleaner air than many of our European neighbours due to a variety of factors, including meteorological conditions, limited smokestack or heavy industry, and implementation of European as well as national clean air policy initiatives. However, challenges remain to ensure our air quality is protected and enhanced into the future. It is important that we look at clean air policy in the broader context, not just in isolation. We must consider the wider benefits by taking account of impacts and synergies with other policy areas, such as health, climate, transport, economic productivity and so on, in framing new policies and approaches. The Irish position will continue to support measures that have been demonstrated to be cost-effective, achievable and which support related policy briefs.
As regards GMOs, the Presidency is seeking political agreement on a proposed amendment to Directive 2001/18/EC on the deliberate release of GMOs. The amendment, if progressed, will allow member states to restrict or prohibit the commercial cultivation of GMOs in their territory under defined criteria. Since the Commission originally proposed this amendment to the deliberate release directive back in 2010, Ireland has been generally supportive of the concept of individual member states possessing greater powers in this area. We previously expressed some reservations on the legal compatibility of the proposal with Internal Market rules and the rules of world trade agreements. However, Ireland has adopted a more positive view on the file as the text has developed. The draft submitted to Council has significant support across member states and I propose to vote in favour of it. None of the GM crops currently authorised for commercial cultivation within the European Union is considered relevant to Irish agriculture. In that sense, Ireland would not have an immediate need to consider implementing the provisions of the proposal. Indeed, we can learn from the initial experiences of other member states.
Moving on to the non-legislative items on the agenda, the Council will discuss draft conclusions on the Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD, and will hold a policy debate on the 2030 framework for energy and climate. While my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, has lead responsibility for nature and biodiversity matters, I will represent Ireland at Council in the discussions on this topic.
The Council conclusions set out the EU position in preparation for a number of forthcoming meetings, namely, the 12th meeting of the conference of the parties to the CBD; the first meeting of the conference of the parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing; and the seventh meeting of the conference of the parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Ireland can strongly support the overall aims and themes of the conclusions around the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services and the need to step up efforts to halt the loss of biodiversity.
The Council conclusions reflect and highlight some of the achievements of the EU, particularly in regard to the progress on the strategic plan for biodiversity. Later this year, my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, expects to publish a mid-term review of the implementation of Ireland's national biodiversity plan, which will highlight Ireland's contribution to both EU and international progress on the CBD objectives.
The conclusions also aim to re-emphasise the commitments made to ratify the Nagoya Protocol, with a view to having the first conference of the parties and meeting of the parties to the protocol. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is working with other Departments and agencies to determine the practical requirements to give effect to the Nagoya Protocol. In that regard, ratification is likely to occur in 2015.
The Cartagena Protocol, the third element of the Council conclusions, seeks to protect biodiversity from potential risks arising from the transboundary movement of any living modified organisms, resulting from modern biotechnology that may have an adverse effect on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. There are 167 parties to the protocol, and all EU member states, including Ireland and the EU itself, are parties. The protocol was adopted as a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity. A programme of work associated with the Cartagena Protocol is discussed and approved by meetings of the parties which take place every two years.
Ireland supports the overall EU position outlined in the conclusions. In particular, we welcome the call for parties to agree a realistic budget consistent with the agreed strategic priorities, functions and programme of work for the effective implementation of the Cartagena Protocol. Adopting this more pragmatic approach should reduce the need for ad hocrequests for additional voluntary funding for inter-sessional activities as has occurred previously.
At its March meeting, the European Council agreed to have a stock-take of the proposed policy framework for climate and energy in the period to 2030 at its June meeting, with a view to the European Council taking a decision on the headline targets in October 2014. It is in this context that the Environment Council will consider elements of the framework at its meeting on 12 June. Responding to the recent communication from the Commission on a policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030, the European Council has stated that "a coherent European energy and climate policy must ensure affordable energy prices, industrial competitiveness, security of supply and achievement of our climate and environmental objectives". The emphasis on the need for coherence between greenhouse gas emission reductions, renewable energy and energy efficiency is central to a cost-effective policy framework and security and affordability of energy supply for households and business.
This initial direction from the European Council puts the cross-sectoral nature, scale and importance of the 2030 challenge in clear perspective. Priority elements still to be agreed with a view to the EU decision in October 2014 include the question of EU headline targets, in particular the greenhouse gas emission reduction target and the proposed EU-wide renewable energy target, as well as the general principles accompanying the framework such as effort-sharing and the proposed governance structure. Ireland has previously outlined its concerns regarding some elements of the framework proposal. We are continuing our engagement with the Commission at all levels to clarify the possible implications for Ireland and ensure a fair and cost-effective solution is reached. This work will continue and intensify in the coming weeks and months.

While dealing with climate matters, let me also touch on any other business item in regard to the Kyoto Protocol. In December 2012, at the Doha climate change conference, the parties to the Kyoto Protocol adopted the so-called Doha amendment which, inter alia, establishes a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol from 2013 to 2020, with legally binding greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments for specified parties, including the EU and its member states. The formal entry into force of the Doha amendment is an important objective for the EU. This requires 144 of the 192 parties to the Kyoto Protocol, including the EU and its member states, to deposit their instruments of ratification. The proposal for a Council decision aims to achieve ratification on behalf of the EU. The proposal remains under discussion within Council, with a view to adoption this year.
I should add that Ireland's emission reduction commitment in the second commitment period, like those of the EU's other member states, is the same as that under existing EU legislation so no additional commitment is being entered into as a result of ratification of the Doha amendment. Ireland's ratification of the Doha amendment involves a formal Government decision and the passing of a resolution in Dáil Éireann, preparations for which have commenced.
Turning briefly to national climate policy matters, on 23 April last, I released a national climate policy position and the general scheme of a climate action and low-carbon development Bill. The national position provides a coherent, high-level policy direction for the adoption and implementation by Government of plans to enable the State to pursue and achieve transition to a competitive, low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. Complementing the national policy position, the general scheme of the climate action and low-carbon development Bill provides a statutory basis for this national transition objective, via the preparation of successive five-yearly national low-carbon roadmaps and successive national climate change adaptation frameworks. I take this opportunity to thank the committee for its report on the outline heads of the Bill and I look forward to further engagement with it on the proposed provisions as the Bill progresses through the Oireachtas.
Coming back to next Thursday's Council agenda, over lunch we will have an informal discussion on the current state of play in regard to the outcome of the Rio+20 conference. We are currently awaiting details from the Greek Presidency on the nature of these discussions so I am not in a position to elaborate further at this stage.
At the end of the day's business, the Council will consider a number of items under the any other business heading, including the current state of play on a proposed regulation on emissions from maritime transport and a proposal for a directive on plastic carrier bags. Ministers will also receive information on a number of issues, including endocrine disrupters, highly fluorinated substances and the work programme of the incoming Italian Presidency. Detailed debate is not expected on any of these items.
This is a brief run-through of the main items for next Thursday's Council agenda. I will be happy to deal with any questions members may have. My officials will be glad to take any technical questions or questions on the working groups.