Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

——produced precisely the positive effect of which the Deputies speak. While these reductions are positive, we cannot rest on our laurels. Rapid growth in the economy is placing an upward pressure on our greenhouse gas emissions and requires us to intensify efforts to bring about the required reductions. The latest available projections of emissions for the 2008 to 2012 period suggest that, even with existing implemented measures, Ireland will face a shortfall of some 8 million tonnes per annum in reaching our Kyoto target. Incidentally, the original projection was 9.2 million tonnes.

To this end, work is under way in my Department on a review of the strategy, taking account of developments at national, European and international levels. This review is important, not only to take account of major changes in the climate change policy landscape at both international and domestic levels but also to seek to identify what additional cost-effective measures Ireland might be able to implement. I am keen to investigate further the potential of areas such as afforestation, energy efficiency, biofuels and anaerobic digestion of agricultural manures. In areas such as these Ireland has a natural advantage which we should attempt to exploit.

Other areas are being examined at EU level in the context of the European Climate Change Programme, including the development of energy-efficient technologies, carbon capture and storage as well as a variety of other devices. I will shortly publish a review document, which will assess progress in implementing the strategy, including emissions trends across each of its sectors. The review will outline proposals for additional measures for Ireland to cost effectively meet its target under the Kyoto Protocol. It is my intention that this document will inform debate on how best to achieve further emissions and, in turn, the development of a revised climate change strategy.

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