Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Minister received emails as I have this week from constituents alarmed at recent media reports about the negotiations on sectoral emissions targets. I met early this week with Friends of the Earth, which warned that any reduction in ambition in one sector would be the increase of targets for other sectors to impossible levels. Indeed, in the words of Professor Hannah Daly, implausible levels.

In particular, we know that demands are being made by farming groups that agriculture’s target be no more than 22%. However, of course, this would have knock-on effect for other sectors, such as transport, energy and so on.

Can the Minister offer reassurances that Government will insist on a fair approach to emissions targets across sectors? When will we see publication of the sectoral emission ceilings? Will it be next week before the Dáil rises or will it be later in July?

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