Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

F-gases are the responsibility of the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. They are not our responsibility. That is an easy and short answer for the Deputy.

There was, and is, a plan in respect of alumina but it has stalled. This is all about one company, effectively. There are a whole series of other pressures in relation to Aughinish Alumina at the moment, which we are trying to work through. Most people will understand that. If we can get stability and certainty for the future around Aughinish Alumina, we can work with it on a plan over time to try to decarbonise as much as possible the processes it operates. As the Deputy knows, the bauxite refining process is very energy intensive and involves high carbon emissions. We need to work with the company and it is happy to work with us in that regard. There are other issues linked to the war in Ukraine that have stalled progress on that plan to date. That does not mean the plan is not there but other issues need to be addressed before we have the certainty to look at the kinds of investments that are needed to reduce the carbon footprint of Aughinish Alumina.