Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy is generous in accepting it. That is the reason I asked if the other Deputies had read it. Clearly they had not read it. I accept the point the Deputy has made. The general point I have made is that this is a framework Bill which allows for a process to go into operation. I made this point during the course of the discussion. The Bill provides a framework within which the National Treasury Management Agency will make purchases not just in respect of the Kyoto Protocol but also in respect of any future agreements. It is a policy matter day to day and for Government to decide which limits would be imposed.

If I were to agree to the principle set out in the amendment I would, as I said at the outset, be accepting a total of 3.6 million tonnes for the entire period. I accept there was an error in the amendment. The Government has indicated its willingness to purchase up to 3.6 million tonnes for each year between 2008 and 2012.

In regard to the rhetoric from Deputy Cuffe that this is imposing a charge on the Irish people, the reality is that whichever way we approach our response to Kyoto it imposes a burden on us all. It is not a question of looking for the easy way out——

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