Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

The Government has put in place a range of measures which, collectively, will deliver an average 14.6 million tonne reduction in greenhouse gas emissions during the period 2008 to 2012, over which our compliance with the Kyoto Protocol will be assessed. That is the point I was making to Deputy Gilmore but he was not listening. Measures which will give a total of 8 million tonnes include strengthening energy requirements in the building regulations, accounting for 300,000 tonnes of CO2 per year; changes in transport, which I have mentioned; excise relief in last year's budget will produce a saving of 250,000 tonnes; the Common Agricultural Policy will take 2.4 million tonnes; and the Government's forestry programme will contribute to the removal of 2 million tonnes. Participation in the EU trading scheme will contribute a further 3 million which will take us up to the 11 million tonnes figure. The balance of 3.6 million tonnes which is recognised in the Irish 14.6 million tonnes suppression target is from the purchase of credits and it may not be necessary to do that.

A review of the national climate change strategy has taken place to assess progress and to identify additional measures. I recently launched a report on the review, entitled Ireland's Pathway to Kyoto Compliance to provide a basis for the public consultation.

Specifically on the consultation a total of 322 submissions were received by my Department to date. As analysis of these submissions is still being completed, it would not yet be appropriate to comment on them individually until that is complete. The submissions will be published on my Department's website in due course. The responses to this open consultation will inform the preparation of a revised national climate change strategy, which I intend to publish before the end of the year.

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