Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I have every confidence that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, will deal with the issue the Deputy has raised. It was a bit like question time here for a while but it is worthwhile to have such exchanges.

Like all other speakers, I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate but the time for talking has run out. It is time for action. Those who argued that this was not an important discussion now have their answer because there has been a tremendous involvement in the debate, which I welcome.

Some speakers referred to the involvement of the Green Party in Government and I add my voice to those who have welcomed that involvement. They are good colleagues, including my constituency colleague, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. They have a solid parliamentary party with whom we are working well and we will make a difference. I commend the Taoiseach for having the foresight and vision to form and lead this Government very effectively. We do not recognise that often enough. The timing was right for the involvement of the Green Party in Government.

Some months before the election, Deputy Ryan and I participated in a discussion at a local primary school in Knocklyon. Local TDs were invited but we were the only two who managed to make it on the day. We had an extensive discussion with the sixth class pupils. One of the questions posed concerned the possibility of Fianna Fáil and the Greens being in Government. The Minister will recall that I said it was a possibility and it was certainly approved by those young students at the time. We are where we are and I welcome the Greens' involvement. We are collectively determined to move on this issue. I am also pleased to have been involved with the Minister in the formation of the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, on which all parties will play an important role.

We have a responsibility as individuals to act on climate change but a joined-up approach by Government is the only option available to us to effect real change. That is happening. Achieving reductions in emissions will require a unified effort. This debate is important in that every political party, Department, local authority and individual must become aware of the impact of their choices and actions. We have heard that fact emphasised throughout today's debate.

Just this week, the UN intergovernmental panel on climate change met in Valencia, Spain. The UN Secretary General warned that the risk of a big rise in sea levels due to the melting of the Greenland and, possibly, Antarctic ice sheets may be larger than previously expected. This could eventually result in a rise in sea levels by several metres. For Ireland specifically, this means we are threatened with wetter winters, more flooding and summer droughts. Rising sea levels will increase risks to our coastal cities and towns and we will have more intense storms. The effects of climate change are now blatantly obvious to all of us.

The Government has taken a serious approach to this issue in producing the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-12. The strategy's purpose is to show clearly the measures by which Ireland will meet its 2008-12 Kyoto Protocol commitment and to identify the areas in which further measures are being researched and developed to enable us to meet our eventual 2020 commitment.

As regards energy use, we must reduce our heavy reliance on fossil fuels and expand the use of renewable energies, such as wind, wave, solar and biomass. The aim is to source 15% of electricity from renewable energy by 2010 and 33% by 2020. The strategy will promote using energy more efficiently and further reducing the CO2 output of large industrial plants through their participation in the EU emissions trading scheme.

As regards our homes and workplaces, the Government has progressively introduced higher energy conservation standards through building regulations. It will build on these and will introduce building standards that are 40% more ambitious in thermal performance than current ones.

Grant schemes are supporting homeowners and businesses to switch to renewable energy, while planning changes have made it easier to install solar panels and small wind turbines. Information on how householders can save energy is being provided through the ongoing energy efficiency campaign, the Power of One. Mandatory building energy rating certification for all buildings offered for sale or lease is being introduced. This will give clarity on a building's energy performance and will provide an incentive to upgrade its energy efficiency. Traditional, incandescent light bulbs will be phased out and the use of more energy efficient alternatives encouraged. Smart meters, which offer greater energy-saving opportunities, will be supplied to all electricity customers.

Greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector are growing faster than from any other sector. There are more cars and trucks on our roads and we are choosing bigger, less fuel-efficient vehicles. The expansion and improvement of public transport will continue to encourage a switch from private cars. In addition, VRT and road tax will be altered to reward the purchase and use of more fuel-efficient vehicles. The use of bio-fuels will be increased to 5.75% of all fuel used by 2010.

While the energy efficiency of the economy has increased, Irish business and industry can and will become more efficient. Low-carbon technologies will create business opportunities for Irish companies. The Government will work closely with business through the energy agreement programmes, bioheat and combined heat and power programmes, and through support for eco-efficient technology.

The well established schemes in support of waste prevention, minimisation, reuse and recycling will be expanded. There is also a plan in place for the use of waste biomass in energy production and of waste-to-energy projects.

Programmes will be further developed across the public sector to achieve energy savings of 33%. Public sector vehicle fleets will move to a bio-fuel blend. In addition, traffic lights and pedestrian lights will be made energy efficient. A scheme to introduce biomass heating in schools will also commence this year. Emissions associated with all official air travel by Ministers and civil servants will be offset.

I would like to refer briefly to the innovative research on biomass being carried out at the University of Limerick, which is supported by the Shannon Development Authority. That research is focused on the production of biomass through photosynthesis. Their view is that there is a need to focus on solar power and the process of photosynthesis to produce biomass, from which biofuels are primarily derived. In all discussions internationally about the need to reduce our CO2 emissions there is very little mention about the vital role of photosynthesis — the natural counteraction, which recycles CO2 productively, to make food and fuels. It may be a solution of the future to process biomass and produce everything which comes from oil, except toxicity. The programme for Government pledges to continue to support research in the biofuel and biomass areas in order that we can respond to new opportunities quickly. Therefore, there are areas yet to be explored further.

With regard to our EU involvement, the Kyoto Protocol required the EU 15 member states to reduce their aggregate emissions by 8% on 1990 levels during the 2008 to 2012 Kyoto Protocol commitment period. New member states have individual targets under the protocol. The new report from the European Commission, Progress Towards Achieving the Kyoto Objectives (COM (2006) 658), shows that, based on the latest available research in 2004, the EU-15, as it was then, have a gap of almost 8% to close to reach their targets. Ireland's distance to target is 12.4%, based on 2005 data. The report estimates that the EU-15 will reach their target only by using additional measures, carbon sinks and the Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms to purchase allowances. Based on 2004 data, seven EU-15 countries are further from target than Ireland: Austria, at 29%; Denmark, at 19%; Finland, at 14%; Italy, at 19%; Luxembourg, at 28%; Portugal, at 14%; and Spain, at 33%.

I look forward to hearing the outcome of the talks in Bali, Indonesia, later this month, as it is hoped they should set the agenda and a timetable for a post-2012 plan, with real and affordable ways to deal with climate change. I reiterate the need for a joined-up approach to tackling climate change. The Government has adopted a very clear cross-departmental approach with the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change, which involves many Departments. The programme for Government commits Ireland to achieving ambitious energy efficiency savings of 20% by 2020 and 33% for the public sector. The draft energy efficiency action plan published recently by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, commenced this process. We all need to work together towards achieving the savings identified in that plan.

The Power of One campaign is an exemplary scheme, urging individuals to make small changes which lead to major differences. Many Members referred to this. This year the Christmas lights on Grafton Street are energy efficient bulbs, saving 75% more electricity than ordinary bulbs. As the UN Secretary General stated recently, "Inaction now will prove the costliest action of all in the long term." Ireland is well positioned to give the much needed leadership at global level, ensuring we tackle the issue of climate change head on and leave a safe and sound legacy for future generations.

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