Dr. Robert Sweeney:

We are certainly not as rich as some of the statistics would suggest, especially if we use GDP per capita. Even if we use GNI* per capita, we are certainly not as rich as a lot of the figures would suggest. The best way to measure living standards is to look at consumption standards, where consumption incorporates not only private consumption but people's consumption of public services. There is a metric called actual individual consumption and Ireland still does well on that score. We are certainly not as wealthy as, or have living standards as high as, those in countries like Germany, the Netherlands or Denmark but we are in the top half in Europe.

I forget exactly where we are in the rankings. That needs to be borne in mind. However, it is unambiguous that, the last time I looked, we had the second highest emissions per capita. We trade places with Luxembourg often. It is not the case that other countries do not have to reduce their emissions. However, there is a stronger case for us to reduce our emissions, although there is still a case for emissions reductions in other countries, because we have such high emissions and, on top of that, we are one of the wealthier countries of the European Union.