Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

It is opposed. No. 11 deals with a serious issue, yet it is being rushed through this House and being referred to committee. It refers to a decision by Ireland to purchase carbon credits to the value of €5 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development for the purpose of compliance with the Kyoto Protocol in the period 2008 to 2012.

In essence, we have three ways of dealing with the Kyoto guidelines. We can reduce emissions here at home, invest in projects abroad or buy carbon credits. We would be much better off emphasising the need to reduce emissions in Ireland.

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