Batt O'Keeffe (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

That would have been a lose-lose situation. The Kyoto Protocol established that it makes good sense to buy carbon credits because it is concerned with a global reduction. By saying it would not avail of the carbon credit purchase scheme the Opposition signals to industry that it will shut it down, create unemployment and reduce confidence in the economy. It was better for us to take the sensible, logical and constructive approach. We will demand more from industry, make provisions to reduce emissions and continue to be innovative in the pursuit of the reduction of emissions.

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