Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I thank Mr. Macken for his presentation. Having read the background information to the action programme and listened to Mr. Macken's presentation, I have a couple of questions for him. Perhaps Mr. Macken would give a brief explanation of the dossier on cars and vans. We are currently experiencing problems with cars and vans, although they are regulatory rather than environmental problems. It is an area that requires monitoring, particularly in terms of small businesses and what may be planned in that area.

The main issue on which I wish to focus is that of climate change. Mr. Macken's presentation states on page 3, "As a flagship initiative on resource efficiency under Europe 2020, it sets out a path for advancing the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and resource-efficient future". Obviously, climate change legislation will have a huge impact in this regard. Further down that page it states: "The priorities listed in the Irish submission focused on areas such a greater integration of environmental principles". While there are only eight weeks remaining of our Presidency of the Council of the European Union, I would like to see a greater emphasis on climate change and the enactment here of the relevant legislation in this regard, which would make a statement to other European countries. I believe we should use the remaining eight weeks of our Presidency of the European Council to try to accelerate that process. I would welcome a comment from Mr. Macken on that matter.

Climate change is front and centre of the nine priorities listed by Mr. Macken, particularly priorities Nos. 2 and 9. On farming, forestry and our carbon footprint, it has been stated that up to one third of carbon emissions comes from the agriculture sector. However, a mitigating factor in this regard is that feedstuff is not being hauled long distances, although that may not be true now owing to the fodder crisis. Another mitigating factor is that farming takes place on open grassland and we have an extensive hedgerow system. In terms of the action programme, how much work is being done by the Department in trying to assess this? It is important we have an accurate picture in this regard. I would welcome the enactment here of climate change legislation and for Ireland to be seen to be leading the way on this issue. However, it is important we have an accurate and true assessment of where we are at in terms of carbon emissions and agriculture, taking into account the mitigating factors that may benefit the agri-food sector. We do not want to have a negative impact on that sector if there is no need. I would welcome a comment from Mr. Macken on that matter.

What struck me about the priorities - Mr. Macken's response may be that what I am concerned about is already provided for in the detail of the priorities - is that there is no reference to the need to improve the efficiency of buildings, particularly homes. Most people will be aware that many of the buildings and homes constructed here during the past 15 to 20 years do not contain wall insulation. People are now having to have their homes insulated because developers and builders who made a fortune during that time did not put even cheap insulation in the cavities. As such, we are playing catch-up in this area. Also, our energy bill is huge and we are using an enormous amount of fossil fuel, much of which is imported, and this is affecting our economy, environment, household budgets and so on. I believe this issue should be highlighted and included as a priority at European level. We should also do our bit in terms of catching up in this area. While I do not have detailed data on this, in my view, other European countries are way ahead of us. As a northern European country, we have an obligation to catch up.