Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree the Oireachtas committee would be a good place to advance this discussion. The Minister of State may wish to use his influence with the committee Chairman to assist in that regard. It would also be useful to hear at Oireachtas committee level what are the preparations of the Department for those legally binding targets that will have a profound impact on the work of the Department, as well as on the private sector. There will also be a role for legislation here. For example, a shift from high-carbon cement to low-carbon cement, which actually cost the same price to produce in the marketplace currently, will not happen unless it is required under law through a phase-out of higher-carbon cement. Likewise, the shift from cement, steel and glass to more sustainable materials will require significant State intervention. I understand Enterprise Ireland and the construction sector working group of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are working on these issues but, given the urgency and the fact the EPA believes we will not meet the targets for this year, the sooner we have that exchange at the Oireachtas committee and start to engage in the kind of solutions that we all agree are required, the better for everyone.

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