John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I will come to a close shortly in any case. It is best if the Deputies opposite know a little of what is in the legislation. The expert advisory body will also advise on any developments in the international climate change situation. Public consultation will occur on the various processes, which will be provided for in the Bill. Obligations will be placed on public bodies with regard to climate mitigation and adaptation. Further provisions on several issues are being considered by the Government with a view to their introduction during the Bill's passage through the Oireachtas. The Bill is relatively short but it represents a milestone and a step forward for climate policy in Ireland. The balance and clarity of the policy and its progressiveness will make it easily accessible and highly effective. I appreciate some people will have concerns about the Bill but I believe they have nothing to fear from this legislation.

With regard to the economy, a series of provisions are contained in the Bill to ensure that commercial issues, competitiveness and economic growth are central to the consideration of measures to tackle climate change. I am acutely aware of particular concerns in the agricultural sector but I believe the Bill poses absolutely no threat to the sustainable future of agriculture in Ireland. Strong laws on climate change can and will sit well with the competitive, high-quality agriculture sector this country has developed. We should note that agriculture has already delivered substantial reductions in emissions without impacting on the profitability or dynamism which currently marks the sector.

I believe the checks and balances in the Bill, combined with the work of Ireland's negotiators and scientific advisers, will ensure that Ireland can meet the commitments contained in the Bill, while ensuring Ireland's agriculture sector can continue to thrive and deliver high quality, sustainable food. During European and international negotiations, Ireland has been to the fore in pressing, with a considerable degree of success, to ensure adequate consideration of agriculture issues. Ireland has been highlighting the issue of the threat of carbon leakage to ensure that food production using sustainable agricultural practices in such countries as Ireland is not replaced by food production using less sustainable and more environmentally damaging methods elsewhere. A substantial amount of Government funding has been put into research at various Irish institutions, including Teagasc, to develop farming practices and technology which help reduce emissions from agriculture.

I reiterate the point that global transition is both essential and inevitable but how we approach it is entirely a matter for ourselves. I believe we must embrace the required change and reinforce the position we have created for ourselves among the leaders rather than the followers. The climate change Bill will create the basis for a thorough debate of the issues and I look forward to presenting the Bill to the House very shortly. I thank everyone involved in the production of the climate change Bill, including all my colleagues. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cuffe, who was in Cancún, will sum up later on.

Data for 1990, 2007 and 2008 is consistent with EPA provisional data published in October 2010. These figures may be subject to minor amendment prior to submission to the EC and UNFCCC.

EPA projections published April 28th 2010 for Kyoto period (average of 2008-2012) for the 'With Additional Measures' scenario – predates availability of provisional data for 2009.

The figures in this row refer to sinks eligible for accounting under Kyoto Protocol rules, which represents net afforestation since 1990. Methodologies for calculation of sinks are still evolving and these numbers may require adjustment before finalisation for 2008-2012. Figures are only quoted for the years during the Kyoto Protocol first commitment period. The Climate Change Bill target uses these rules for inclusion of sinks in calculations.

Compliance with the Kyoto Protocol commitment is measured against a "base year" which consists of emissions in 1990 for all Kyoto Protocol controlled greenhouse gas other than F-Gases, for which 1995 is used as the base year. Ireland's base year amount for the purposes of setting the target was 55.607mt. Historical emissions can change due to new methodologies or data but the actual target cannot – the target therefore is based on an old version of the inventory data for the base years. When account is taken of Ireland's allowed increase of 13% on base year, a Kyoto limit of an average of 62.836mt per annum can be calculated for the 2008-2012 period.

Calculated based on data in EPA Provisional Inventories Publication data for 2008. Subject to revision upon resubmission of Inventory Data.

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