Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)

I want to ask the Taoiseach about the climate change Bill. A proposed Bill was presented by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government last year, and it included an explanatory memorandum for legislation. The Minister, Deputy Gormley, produced a framework document soon after that which set out his intentions on a climate change Bill. The indications then were that the Bill would be debated by June 2010. I am surprised to find that in the legislative programme, we do not have any indication on when that Bill might be ready. I presume that it will not now be ready in 2010 or even in 2011. Would it be helpful if the committee produced the Bill for the Government? We are well able to do so as we have done it already in respect of the Foreshore Act. Green Party voters will be very disappointed at the fact that there is no indication for a climate change Bill. Would the Taoiseach welcome such a Bill if it was produced by the Joint Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government? Would he take it seriously and implement the targets that we must meet due to our international commitments?

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