Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the findings of the European Environment Agency's report entitled State and Outlook 2005, which shows Ireland has a poor record on the control of greenhouse gas emissions and the agency's view that Ireland still faces a significant challenge in meeting its Kyoto Protocol targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22804/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the European Environment Agency, EEA, was published 1 November last. Since then, I engaged in extensive discussions on the report at a subsequent meeting of the Joint Committee on Environment and Local Government.

The report is based on 2003 data. While it showed Ireland to be approximately 12% above its Kyoto target, the latest EPA data for 2004 show that emissions were just 10% above target. The European Environment Agency did not take account of these data, given that they were not available. This target, of course, is to be achieved in the 2008-12 period. In addition, the most recent EPA data showed that in terms of distance from the Kyoto target, Ireland has approximately 2 million tonnes per year less than previously estimated.

There are three strands to the Government's approach to achieving the further reductions needed to meet the significant challenge represented by our Kyoto target: emissions reductions or purchase of carbon allowances by installations participating in the EU emissions trading scheme, use of the Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms by the Government to purchase credits for carbon reductions elsewhere in the world and measures to reduce emissions throughout the economy including those set out in the national climate change strategy, other measures which have subsequently been introduced and further initiatives to be identified in the review of the strategy. The breakdown of the national burden between these three strands is intended to allow Ireland achieve the target in the way which imposes the least cost on our economy.

The total allocation of allowances to the emissions trading sector for 2008-12 was recently announced by the Government, and the Environmental Protection Agency is drawing up the detailed national allocation plan for submission to the European Commission. The Government will shortly publish a consultation document on measures to enhance the national climate change strategy and build on our recent initiatives in areas such as biofuels and renewable energy grants.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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I welcome where progress has been made in certain industrial sectors, particularly agriculture. Indeed, carbon emissions by manufacturing industry are down. However, the key issue is that we are still above our Kyoto target. According to the EPA website, we are approximately 25% above our limit. Can the Minister say by how much the Kyoto limits will be exceeded by 2010 and 2012 and what he intends to do about transport? According to information published by the Central Statistics Office last month carbon emissions from cars are up 60% from 1990. What will he do about that and, particularly, how will he address the national spatial strategy which is all about people living near their jobs and having sustainable development and growth?

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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We are talking about ten percentage points above the target at present.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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That is 23%.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Ten percentage points above——

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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That makes it 23%——

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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One can jig it whatever way one wishes.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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10% plus 13% equals 23%.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Our target is 13 percentage points above the 1990 figures. There is no point in adding the 13 percentage points to the ten percentage points. That would be a miscalculation and I am sure that is not the Deputy's intention. The target we have to reach is ten percentage points from our present levels. We are above our target and the challenge is huge. A whole spectrum of measures is needed to reach our target. First and foremost there will be some purchase. That is a legitimate approach within the Kyoto protocol well envisaged and well operated. The prognostications of ruinous amounts of cost do not appear to be accurate in that regard. I agree with the Deputy that the central hypothesis in his supplementary question was that we have to look at a whole range of issues relating to transport and transport modes. The Government is investing and will continue to invest a vast amount of money in Transport 21. Transport 21 aims to get people out of cars and into public transport. The Deputy will accept there are settlement patterns in Ireland that are unique to Ireland and some 40% of people live in areas outside urban areas. There is a variety of other approaches that have to be looked at. I agree the challenge is huge. We have to improve the insulation levels in homes, introduce new standards for homes and, as we did in budget 2006, we have to introduce incentives for biofuels, alternative fuels and renewable energy sources. I am not in the least diminishing the extent of the challenge but the strategy which is in place is one that will get us to where we need to be.

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister believe he will achieve that target, particularly, in the area of transport? We have not succeeded in getting people out of their cars. The transport corridors are not available. Commuting takes much longer given the long queues of cars emitting carbon dioxide. Would the Minister consider a forum such as that held in the UK recently between all the major carbon polluters in industry throughout the United Kingdom? They had a summit at which targets over and above those of the Kyoto protocol were defined. If we got together, notwithstanding the Kyoto limits, we could make a massive effort to reduce carbon emissions and prevent climate change.

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I do not disagree with the Deputy that there would be value in looking at the issue but we should not take a lesson from the UK. As we are aware it is using the arguments about climate change and meeting the Kyoto targets as a thinly veiled excuse to develop the nuclear debate. The Deputy is correct in saying that society will have to meet the challenge and that Government direction alone will not change the habits of a lifetime and particularly those relating to transport modes. I have not looked at the benefits of the type of forum suggested but I am certainly willing to consider it. It is a matter we could discuss in the context of the committee. It is something I would not rule out.