Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Later today, the Minister, Deputy Hogan, will publish an update of our performance on climate change targets. The good news is that Ireland will have met its targets for 2008-12. Challenging targets have to be met between 2013-20. The Minister is undertaking a review of how those targets might be met and has asked the NESC to produce some research on how they might be met, in particular given the performance of different sectors of the economy.

The review will inform the Government's policy on how we can meet our targets. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to enshrine that in legislation. I am sure the Deputy will agree it is necessary that we know what we are doing before we enshrine it in legislation. I understand from the Minister that there will be a very open consultative process which will engage all stakeholders in regard to how the challenging targets from now to 2020 are to be met.

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