Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

I will not use unparliamentary language. Let us cut to the chase. EMT is a European-based scheme. It has nothing to do with the Minister of State or me — although we support it. The principle works and is good. The issue is what we are doing with the rest of our activities. What are we doing in our other businesses that do not form part of the emissions trading scheme? In Government Fine Gael will address this issue in a way the present Government parties have failed to do in their ten years in office.

We are talking about how to change our carbon footprint and reduce our carbon emissions with the benefit of reducing costs. This needs to be driven locally. We will give new statutory powers to local authorities for their administrative areas. Counties may wish to join together as Limerick and Clare have already done on a voluntary basis. They have defined a climate change strategy for their specific administrative area which means they consider all the activities outside the emissions trading scheme — industries, shops, hospitals, schools and homes. They drill right down through every planning application that is made. They consider the design, whether recyclable material is used and the thermal efficiency of homes.

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