Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

In light of the recent agreements of EU leaders to reduce emissions to at least 20% below the 1990 levels by 2020, the strategy looks beyond Kyoto. Deputy Sargent is right that this is a challenging task and we must take a longer term view. This was done, particularly in relation to renewable energy targets and investment in public transport to ensure the country is better positioned to meet the challenge of more ambitious targets in the post-2012 period. The strategy across all the areas is set out in detail.

On the flexible mechanisms under which developed countries will support the development of clean technology in the developing world in return for emissions, as Deputy Sargent said, we have allocated €270 million in the national development plan——

See this speech in context