Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

This is a sensible approach to take given the target that Ireland must achieve and having regard to the guiding principles of the national climate change strategy to promote sustainable development, to ensure sectoral equity and to protect economic development and competitiveness.

Ireland, like its fellow EU member states, remains committed to meeting its greenhouse gas emission reduction target in the period 2008 to 2012 and supports the EU position on the need for further action at a global level post-2012. Ireland recognises that the Kyoto Protocol was only a first step, albeit very important one, in addressing global climate change, and the task of achieving the ultimate objective of the convention remains in place and is becoming increasingly urgent. It is encouraging that all participants in Montreal, including those countries who have been noted for their vehement opposition to the Kyoto Protocol, have accepted that they have a responsibility to engage in real discussions about the way forward.

I note Deputy Eamon Ryan's comments and I will relate them directly to the Ministers who attended the conference. They left me at home on this occasion.

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