Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

I listened to the Taoiseach say there were not many contentious issues. One would have to agree that the climate change debate in the EU is as contentious as they come, unless one adopts a "hear no emissions, see no emissions, speak no emissions" type of approach. Is the Taoiseach finding that the previous béal bocht approach with our European neighbours will not work this time when it comes to setting a target which in EU terms has been set conservatively at 20%? The European Commission wanted 30%. Even with 20% below 1990 levels, is it the case that we will not be in a position to argue for a special dispensation in Ireland as with Kyoto? This was to have been an 8% reduction below 1990 levels, but we got away with a 13% increase and are now 23% above 1990 levels. Following the European Council meeting, will the Taoiseach tell the people that not just the EU, but Ireland, will have a target of at least 20%? Given that we are a wealthy country in comparison with other European countries, as the Taoiseach keeps telling us, perhaps even more needs to be done to pull our weight. Following the European Council meeting, will the Taoiseach give an Irish target? Will this target be the 20% target agreed in the EU or will it be greater than that, possibly the 30% target the Commission wishes to see?

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