Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I thank the Fine Gael Party for facilitating me by allowing me to make my contribution now as I will be unable to attend the debate later. I welcome the Bill and congratulate the Green Party for introducing it. The Labour Party will support this Bill in the division.

I am disappointed by the negative response from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It was in line with the replies he gave earlier today during exchanges at Question Time. He seeks to talk his way out of and around the Government's failure to deliver on our Kyoto Protocol targets. We are an embarrassment and are ashamed of the Minister.

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