Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

What kind of lunacy is that? Instead of creating an incentive for Ireland to develop into a low carbon economy, the effect would be to drive jobs abroad, destroying Ireland's economy, without any environmental benefit at all. The Opposition would create a desert and call it progress. What the Government has done is perfectly balanced. It has placed an appropriate cap on industrial emissions through the ETS that will deliver reductions of more than 3 million tonnes.

The new climate change strategy shows we will meet our Kyoto Protocol target with 80% domestic effort and 20% use of mechanisms. In doing so, we will position ourselves for the more challenging targets. The strategy shows the existing measures will deliver even further reductions in the period beyond 2020. It is worthwhile examining the measures in place and the impact they will have. In the energy sector, the Government, by ensuring 15% of Ireland's electricity supply comes from renewable sources by 2010, will reduce emissions by almost 1.5 million tonnes. Modernisation and expansion of the natural gas network will reduce emissions by a further 60,000 tonnes per annum. The power generation firms in the ETS will contribute 2.4 million tonnes towards Ireland's target.

I was surprised that Deputy Olivia Mitchell stated nothing had happened in the transport area but then she correctly and properly praised Luas. A total of 26 million people used Luas in its first year.

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