Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I am aware of that. Those deliberations continue within the Cabinet sub-committee. The Deputy will be aware it is not the practice to speak about the deliberations of such committees, no more than about the deliberations within the Cabinet. They deal with decisions. Ongoing negotiations are taking place regarding the EU's efforts to come to full agreement on the 20% target it set in preparation for the Copenhagen meeting next year and a commitment to move to 30% if a global agreement can be secured. Indeed, the Deputy's committee is another forum where information can be made available to the public.

There has been extensive coverage of this issue. Granted, ordinary members of the public do not get involved to the same extent as legislators. That is what one would expect. However, when decisions are taken, that can be dealt with. In the meantime, negotiations continue and discussions are ongoing. Providing the maximum flexibility possible for us to meet these targets is the objective of the negotiators who are currently engaged with the various elements of the Commission who are dealing with this. Now that the Presidency is involved as we go into the final phase of discussions before the December Council meeting, when it is expected the decision will be taken, those engagements will intensify.

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