Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This amendment calls for the inclusion of targets up to 2050. This is a very similar amendment to those on which we spoke last night. Establishing domestic mitigation targets divorced from EU processes is not wise because Ireland is already subject to legally binding greenhouse gas mitigation targets up to 2020. Negotiations are ongoing at EU level to agree mitigation targets for all member states up to 2030 and the process of target-setting is likely to continue up to 2050. Accordingly, putting in place our own statutory mitigation targets would likely cut across and interfere with the EU target-setting process. Accordingly, I cannot accept this amendment.

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