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

I am anxious to work in step with our EU partners to ensure that we have a competitive, low carbon economy. If we are out of step with them and fall behind the leaders, it might damage our competitiveness. We are working in step with our EU partners to comply with targets to which we are legally bound.

The outline heads of the low carbon Bill will be brought to the Government next week. I will then be in a position to inform the House of its precise details. Many of the ideas mentioned in the course of Deputy Stanley's contribution - I am sure I will hear them from Deputy Catherine Murphy on Friday - will form a major part of any proposal tabled by the Government. I acknowledge the contribution made in the previous Dáil by the Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, which did a significant amount of research on this matter. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, has engaged with stakeholders and put together policy analyses and options for various Departments. Hopefully, all of this work will feed into a broad consensus in the House on where we need to be in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions for our society and economic development.

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