John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress to date with the proposals contained within the [i]National Climate Change Strategy[/i]; when an updated strategy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11170/05]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the basis on which he believes that Ireland will meet its targets in regard to his statement issued on the anniversary of the signing of the Kyoto Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11087/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I will answer Questions Nos. 64 and 104 together with the agreement of the House.

The National Climate Change Strategy was designed as a comprehensive framework to reduce Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions in the most efficient and equitable manner. Progress is being made towards achieving the target. Latest EPA data show emissions in 2003 at approximately 25% above 1990 levels, down from 29% in 2002 and 31% in 2001. The aim will be to maintain the downward trend in emissions up to and through the Kyoto commitment period of 2008-12.

Current business-as-usual based projections indicate a reduction requirement in total annual greenhouse gas emissions of 9.2 million tonnes per annum during reference period 2008-12, that is, the commitment period under the protocol. This reduction will be achieved through a combination of emissions reductions throughout the economy and the purchase of carbon allowances on the international market.

Under the 2004 emissions trading regulations, 105 Irish installations are participating in emissions trading within the EU since 1 January 2005. These installations account for approximately one third of total greenhouse gas emissions here. In addition to cost effective emissions reductions, participation in emissions trading will enable the installations concerned to meet their overall targets in the most economically efficient manner through access to least cost emissions reduction opportunities.

My priority is to progressively reduce total domestic greenhouse gas emissions on a least cost basis, having regard to economic and social development considerations. However, where reductions in the non-trading side of the economy cannot be achieved on a cost effective basis, carbon allowances will be purchased by the State in lieu of emissions.

Work is currently in progress in my Department on a review of the national climate change strategy, taking account of developments since its publication at end 2000. I intend that this review will be completed in the coming months and published.

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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We are an embarrassment in Europe. The level of the increase in climate change emissions here is much higher than those of any of our European neighbours in the context of the targets set. The Minister is lucky that in the past two years, the closure of the Irish Fertiliser Industry plants have led to a temporary and small drop in emissions. The national climate change strategy set strong targets. It called for the issue of the tax treatment of leases to be examined by 2003 and the conversion of the Moneypoint station to gas. It also sought to maximise the sending of freight by rail. Has the Minister met any of these targets? Does he have any intention of revising the strategy? If so, when does he intend to revise it? Does he honestly believe we will meet the targets set for overall emissions to be 13% over 1999 levels within the 2008-12 period?

Will the Minister revise the strategy and if so, when? Does he seriously believe we will meet the targets? What about the substance of the strategy? Are we achieving any progress on the specifics in the strategy?

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I think the Minister paid me a compliment towards the end of the last question.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I always compliment the Deputy.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Until I read what it was in the Official Report, I reserve the right to return it in kind at some suitable opportunity.

How much of the reduction in emissions is attributable to the closure of the Nítrigin Éireann Teoranta plants in Arklow and Cork?

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As I said, a review of the strategy is ongoing and will be completed this year and published. Deputy Cuffe may have missed that point. The recent emissions statistics look good. They are not great but they are good. They are an improvement and they show an annual fall since 2001. I accept we must maintain that trend. Quite a number of factors have contributed to the reductions, including cleaner generation and a more efficient use of electricity, a change in industrial output specifically as a result of those closures and a reduction in livestock numbers.

In regard to the general point Deputy Cuffe made, it depends on the set of statistics at which one looks. I would be the first to accept there are lies, damn lies and statistics. If one looks at emissions per unit of GDP, which I do not believe is necessarily the most logical statistic, we are now at 54%. One can take any set of statistics one wants and put whatever construction one wishes on them.

Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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If the Minister wants to use the illogical set, then by all means he should do so.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Emissions per unit of GDP, which are now at 54% compare very favourably to the EU as a whole. We are weak in per capita emissions and are among the highest in the EU. If I was writing a progress report, I would say we are doing well but must continue to do better.