Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The big issue with potential penalties is not on our emissions target. Nothing has been set in stone yet, but it relates to not meeting our renewable energy targets. That is naturally enough a further concern for us. Based on the evidence available to me at the moment, I believe we will reach our renewable electricity target, but heat and transport are two challenging areas. Within the next few weeks I intend to bring proposals to Government on a renewable heat incentive scheme, which is very different from the one proposed in Northern Ireland, in order that we can get as close as possible to our 12% target for renewable heat.

On transport, we have increased the biofuel blend in our transport fuels, which will get us quite close to our transport target as well. However, we need to make further efforts on our emissions targets and our renewable energy targets. Every effort needs to be made, not just on our 2020 targets but our 2030 targets which will be far more challenging.

See this speech in context