Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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As the Senator knows, we will not have defined national targets in our legislation but we will comply, as we are obliged to under EU law, with EU binding targets. That is the role we are playing, in line with other EU member states. The binding targets in regard to renewable energy are matters for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte. This will form part of the sectoral plans which will come from each Department, arising from the enactment of our climate Bill this year. Much work is going on in each of the relevant Departments, in particular in the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Transport, Tourism and Sport, to ensure we meet our obligations. There are many challenges on the renewable energy side. Even though we have indicated our targets for 2020 as part of our objectives, we are aware there are many challenges in meeting those targets, not least 2020, but going forward what our level of ambition should be for 2030. There are indicators from the modelling we are doing that renewable energy targets, because of the some of the controversies, will be more difficult to meet. I am sure the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources will be glad to outline them in more detail. I do not want to pre-empt what will be brought forward in any sectoral plan or in his policy papers in regard to his role in his Department in meeting our national climate change objectives.

In regard to maritime transport, I will ask one of my officials who is dealing with that area to respond.