Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I shall respond directly to a number of the comments made which I have taken on board. Obviously, we have our national climate change policy which commits us to having an 80% decarbonised economy by 2050 and carbon neutrality in agriculture. We also have our 2020 targets for greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, we do have targets. I have said what I have said about the targets being set through the European Union and will not repeat our two options.

With regard to Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett's comments on not threatening the economy and the issue of balancing economic and environmental considerations, I agree with him in principle in respect of future generations. However, we have to make sustainable decisions - decisions that ensure we strike the right balance between these two competing factors. They do not always have to be competing. A low carbon environment could be a significant economic driver. It just depends on getting the balance right, but, in principle, I do not disagree with the Deputy.

With regard to the comments of Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, there are preparations ongoing for the national mitigation plan. I take on board all of the comments the Deputy made on schools, hospitals, etc. He is correct that the work needs to continue and what we are doing will be part of it.

I will be launching a public consultation process very soon, in a matter of days. It will open up this discussion to everyone, which is necessary. It needs to be transparent and open, as nobody here has a monopoly of ideas. Those who come together and engage in some engineering could actually achieve great things.

Deputies Fergus O'Dowd and Richard Boyd Barrett raised the issue of local authorities.

On Report Stage I intend to do something about them and their role. I was going to refer to this later, but since it has just come up in the debate, I will make reference to it now. I intend to enhance the role of local authorities in this important area. Therefore, I intend to introduce amendments on Report Stage. I have been considering them based on the remarks made on Second Stage by a number of Deputies, including the two opposite. Members should please bear in mind that I am taking on board the comments made.

Deputy Fergus O'Dowd is correct that a number of local authorities have been very proactive in this area. Some have been more proactive than others, as is always the case. I have seen considerable work being done in some local authorities in preparing for this. The local authority in County Tipperary, for instance, engaged in a process of installing solar panels on all of its buildings. This has reaped great dividends and resulted in savings. I must draw attention also to the lead the local authority has given in this area. There are other examples in other local authority areas. I appreciate the comments made on this issue.

The Deputy made reference to wind energy. To be honest, I have been frustrated in this regard. It is a question of getting the mix right. I have been frustrated at the fact that other avenues have not been considered as part of the mix. The lead time that was necessary in which to provide for these avenues may not have been used. I am trying to prepare the groundwork for these avenues in other areas and they will bear fruit in the future.

Those are my replies to the individual comments made.