Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The European Commission report states that existing climate change mitigation efforts will not enable Ireland to achieve its 2020 climate goals domestically. It states that the way in which the Government might deal with this is by buying carbon allocations from other member states. That would indicate that the taxpayers would pay for a subsidy for both industry and agriculture. Does the Minister intend to shell out by buying carbon allocations and if so, how much does he intend to shell out?

The report also says that as it stands, the national mitigation plan offers few new mitigation measures. In other words, it is not up to speed or scratch. What will the Minister say to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, about that and what will he ask him to do?

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