Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 46:

In page 8, between lines 18 and 19, to insert the following:"(j) mitigation measures, specified in a notification to the Minister or the Government under subsection (13), and

(k) the protection of public health.".

This amendment seeks to incorporate the initiatives and experiences of local authorities in implementing greenhouse gas emission reduction measures when developing and approving national mitigation plans. Very often local authorities have proven themselves to be adept at proactively innovating in areas of environmental concern. Therefore, I hope and trust that mitigation will be no exception. Accordingly, my amendment seeks to complement the top-down nature of the national mitigation plans with a bottom-up approach from local authorities, which I believe will be to the benefit of both.

In addition, as an added consideration in developing national mitigation plans, the amendment also seeks to include a reference to "the protection of public health" to explain that the core benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions will often include a reduction in the emission of fossil fuel-burning pollutants into the atmosphere. This consideration may determine the mix of mitigation policy measures to be implemented at any point in time.

See this speech in context