Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy has asked a number of questions. The Government is committed to the Kyoto targets that have been set down and which have worked. I answered questions from Deputy Sargent in the House recently on the national climate change strategy in which I outlined the measures that are included in that to ensure adequate reductions in greenhouse gases are in place to meet the obligations under Kyoto. I restate that. We have been working to put in place the necessary arrangements for participation in emissions trading. That structure is in place.

The Deputy asked about renewable energy. Sustainable Energy Ireland has set out its policies and targets and what it is endeavouring to achieve. The Government is funding it to undertake that work. We will soon decide on the total amount of CO2 allowances to allocate to large industrial sites and power generation stations under emissions trading.

I accept Deputy Sargent's point that, because of our growth in the past decade, compilation of the plan has been harder to achieve but, at the same time, we were one of the first countries to submit a plan and we have taken a lead on this position in the European Union. It is not correct to say we have stood back from this. That national allocation plan has been presented to the European Commission.

What the Deputy said about the increase in the cost of oil is a fact. The reasons for that are well known but that is why we are committed to the issues and policies set out by Sustainable Energy Ireland and towards which we should try to work in the case of renewable energy. We cannot make these changes in a short period, however, particularly when our economy has effectively doubled in a period of more than a decade.

See this speech in context