Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ireland is committed to achieving the transition to a competitive low-carbon climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy and as the Deputy stated, it makes sense to so do. Access to secure, clean, affordable energy is essential to our future economic growth and our ability to attract and retain investment to Ireland and to build Irish enterprise depends on our ability to guarantee a reliable supply of energy, for example, at a competitive cost. We must lessen our dependence on fossil fuels and must reduce our emissions and the Government has engaged in detailed discussions with the Commission, as the Deputy is aware, to highlight some particular issues in respect of Ireland. As the Deputy noted, there is a package of measures and I reiterate to him there has been extensive engagement with the Commission on the issue to date. As the Deputy is aware, it will be a challenge for the agriculture sector to meet the targets. That point has been made and there has been highly detailed discussion on that, on the implications for Ireland and on how we best manage the targets. Those discussions were held in that context, that is, it was necessary to have detailed discussions on the agriculture and forestry industries. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has engaged with the Commission for some years to ensure this clear understanding of the agriculture and forestry sectors in Ireland, as well as to seek consistency between European Union agrifood and climate policies. While the Government is committed, there are particular issues it was necessary to discuss. The Government wanted to make sure that whatever we agree is consistent with those fundamental principles and proposals from the Council the Deputy has outlined. The Government is committed to moving forward. It has made the case regarding particular sectors of the economy in which particular difficulties arise but the Government is committed. Moreover, the Deputy should note the Government is committed to public transport. That programme and the capital moneys that are available now are committed to the development of proper public transport infrastructure nationwide.

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