Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.

I travelled to Copenhagen on 17 December to participate with more than 120 other heads of state and government in the high level segment of the United Nations climate change conference. The objective of the conference was to seek agreement to put in place a new international treaty on climate change as a successor to the Kyoto Protocol when its five-year commitment period ends in December 2012.

Ireland's position on the international climate change agenda is advanced through our membership of the European Union. We fully supported the European Union's approach to the Copenhagen conference, including being prepared to raise our target for reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, from 20% to 30% in the context of an international agreement where developed countries made comparable reduction commitments and there was adequate action by developing countries to curb their emissions growth.

The eventual outcome of the conference, the Copenhagen Accord, was considerably less ambitious than the one we had hoped for, particularly as it does not include legally binding targets. However, while the overall outcome was disappointing, the accord none the less contains positive elements on which future progress can be built. Importantly, the accord includes recognition of the need to limit the increase in global temperatures to 2° Celsius. It also provides a commitment for significant financial support for climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries and the establishment of a mechanism to support action against global deforestation.

We must reflect and learn from the Copenhagen meeting. The process is ongoing and the next conference of parties, COP 16, will be held in Mexico at the end of the year. Chancellor Angela Merkel has already indicated that she will try to bring parties together in Bonn in advance of the Mexico conference to move the discussions forward.

The European Union, for its part, will honour all its commitments and obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. It remains committed to emissions reductions of 20% by 2020, rising to 30% in the event of a satisfactory international agreement, and to providing substantial funding to assist developing nations. We remain a lead player in this respect.

Notwithstanding that the outcome was well short of what we hoped for, I commend the Danish Presidency and, in particular, Prime Minister Rasmussen, for their hard work in organising the conference and their considerable efforts in trying to secure a positive outcome to the proceedings. Ireland will continue to support the European Union in its efforts to persuade all other parties to sign up to an international legally binding deal in Mexico.

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