Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

I would argue that the Government cannot subscribe to a Bill which seeks to set long-term reduction targets on a legislative basis. These targets are properly the area of Government policy. Climate change policy has been adopted on foot of decisions taken by the Government and is based on international commitments that Ireland has signed up to and ratified, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol to that convention.

It is not necessary for the Government to enshrine in legislation its commitment to a fair and equitable reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions.

See this speech in context