Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

In reply to Deputy Sargent's question on the climate change strategy, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will publish shortly the review of the national climate change strategy which will take stock of all the developments since 2000. He will also propose additional measures for the country to cost effectively meet its target for the purpose of the Kyoto Protocol. Existing and potential new measures to reduce transport emissions will be addressed in the review process. I cannot give the Deputy an exact date for publication of these proposals but I understand the information will be available shortly.

On the emissions trading for the next round, we will announce within a day or two, if not today, the allocations for the sectors concerned for the period 2008 to 2012. Other issues such as VRT, biofuels — the Minister referred to the €27 million to be made available — transport emissions and air quality are vitally important. Nobody is arguing against them and the Minister will set out our position on these.

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