Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Those are very succinct and pertinent questions in the context of the debate that took place yesterday at the EU Council meeting. Ireland was broadly able to accept the conclusions. The Commissioner made a presentation. What I would say is that a simulation or modelling exercise or a comprehensive impact assessment need to be carried out in respect of the effect of Commission's proposals on each member state. That has not happened yet. That is the next stage of the operation. That will deal with the expansion of the ETS to other sectors, the effort-sharing aspect and carbon sequestration. Quite a number of countries are also seeking to expand the latter. Carbon sequestration would have positive implications for us in terms of land use and afforestation. Countries like Sweden and Finland would be of a similar view to Ireland. In terms of effort-sharing, we want to see the impact analysis and what will be the actual impact of the proposals on us.

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