Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I can confirm that he will be attending from 4 to 11 December. I have a large number of engagements and will be glad to report back to the Deputy at the Oireachtas committee on the various meetings I will attend on behalf of Ireland and as part of the EU delegation. There are two major objectives. The first is to get a commitment internationally that there will be a post-Kyoto commitment period which will be signed up to by everybody internationally. Before detailed work can be put in place we need to have a commitment from everybody that they want to see a post-2012 commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The EU is the leader in this, in that all member states wish to see a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. We will make every effort to participate in that.

I am particularly concerned about the high level of agricultural related emissions across the EU and the difficulties these calculations are creating for EU and world policy in the context of food security. There is a conflict between climate change and food security. That is one of the reasons I postponed any legislation. I am surprised that a Fianna Fáil Deputy would not support our efforts to get away from the targets that were in the legislation.

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