Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I fully acknowledge that I am a few weeks behind time. While slippage sometimes occurs, I am bringing forward the policy analysis done by the National Economic and Social Council from the end of February 2013 to next week. The Deputy failed to refer to his document, which is the outcome of a process that involves the various stakeholders drawing up the necessary policy options and doing an analysis of how Ireland will achieve mitigation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a sectoral basis against a background of economic difficulty. There are challenges which legislation alone will not solve. People in various Ministries and sectors must produce solutions to ensure we meet the legally binding targets set out in EU legislation. We must comply with certain targets provided for in legislation as failure to do so would result in the European Commission bringing a case against Ireland for infringements to the European Court of Justice. Some of Deputy Stanley's ideas will feature among the proposals being put to government. However, I must secure the agreement of the Cabinet before I can inform the House.

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