Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

It is three quarters by measures with the other quarter permitted under the proposals. Ireland is not alone in this regard and our approach is consistent with that being adopted by the majority of the EU 15 member states for which programmes are in place. Ten of these countries have committed themselves to purchase a combined amount of 550 million carbon units and have allocated budgetary commitments of €2.8 billion to do so. The House has lost sight of the fact that in its response to the second national allocations programme, one of the negative comments made by the European Commission was that Ireland had not placed carbon fund legislation on the Statute Book.

Of all the people I expected Deputy Cuffe to quote as an authority in this matter, George Bush was not one of them. It is almost the equivalent of somebody from that side of the House last week promoting the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Howard. Neither gentleman is an exemplar of how one should respond under the Kyoto Protocol.

Deputies will be aware that the recent spring Council set very ambitious targets for Europe which lead the world and Ireland is involved in that process.

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