Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On the 2020 targets, we had a lot of discussion in this committee in the summer of 2013 on carbon cliffs. I expressed concerns then that if we did not start the work on this, we would literally hit a cliff which we would then have to try to climb over, in terms of reaching our targets. I take on board the fact that the Minister has only been in office for three or four months but the Government has been in power for four years. I do not want to make a party political point here because we have a collective responsibility, as legislators to address this issue. I would like to think that this Dáil will put the necessary legislation in place to deal with this issue before its term ends.

On the issue of bogs and their carbon sink value, can we look again at the issue of cut-away bogs? There are extensive cut-away bogs in Laois, Offaly and several other midland counties and their value as carbon sinks must be assessed. This is not just an issue for the raised bogs. It is a well known fact, and scientific analysis has shown, that many of the cut-away bogs are now recreating themselves as raised bogs. They will have a carbon sink value and I ask the Minister to ensure that this is taken into consideration.

We must put the sectoral plans and legislation in place and start the job. It is so important. We should have started this a long time ago - back in the 1950s or 1960s - but we really must do it now.