Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 61: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the policy framework in which he intends to reach Government targets of reducing emissions by 3% a year and to bring the country in line with Kyoto emission targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35488/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ireland's commitment under the Kyoto Protocol is to limit emissions to 13% above 1990 levels. The Government's policy framework for meeting this commitment is set out in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-12, published in April 2007. The strategy addresses emissions across all sectors of the economy and sets out a series of measures that, collectively, will reduce emissions by over 17 million tonnes each year over the period 2008 to 2012. This will enable Ireland to meet its Kyoto Protocol commitments. Furthermore, of the 17 million tonne reductions each year, 13.6 million tonnes relate to reductions in domestic emissions.

The programme for Government sets a challenging target of a 3% reduction per year on average in our greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of the Government. Ireland will fulfil its Kyoto Protocol commitment as far as possible by emissions reductions through domestic action rather than the purchase of credits and, therefore, achieve the 3% annual reduction on average between now and 2012. As I set out in this year's carbon budget, meeting this commitment will enable the Government to limit its purchase of credits to no more than 1 million tonnes per annum during the 2008 to 2012 period.

In future carbon budgets, I will be aiming at introducing further measures with a view to minimising the requirement to supplement domestic action with the purchase of credits through the Kyoto Protocol flexible mechanisms. As a result, Ireland will be better prepared to manage more demanding greenhouse gas emission reductions in the period to 2020 and beyond.

The programme for Government also seeks to establish cross-party agreement on longer-term emissions reductions. I look forward to achieving agreement in this regard through the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Arising from the Minister's reply and his reference to the national climate change strategy, I acknowledge that is the ballpark at which we are aiming. In the programme for Government, a 3% reduction, as the Minister pointed out, is an ambitious target. The measures he took in the carbon budget and in the Budget Statement of the Minister for Finance did not clearly set out how we are to achieve a reduction of 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions in 2008. I ask the Minister to set out explicitly how we are to achieve his objective of a 3% reduction in the first year, 2008. We have seen some changes in vehicle registration tax which will achieve a reduction of only 50,000 tonnes. How are we to achieve a reduction of 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions in 2008?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy rightly said, I mentioned many of these things in the carbon budget. The Deputy was at the press conference, where he was very welcome.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I was not put out.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy's party leader specifically requested that the Deputy be present and I was more than happy to facilitate him.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister is always courteous.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I detailed at that stage that the measures leading to additional savings referred to additional savings by the emissions trading sector, following the Commission's decision on Ireland's national allocation plan in July of this year, which were included in the draft energy efficiency action plan published by my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan. These measures included funding for an initial pilot programme to encourage the owners of older housing stock to upgrade the energy performance of their homes, SEI support for new and retrofit public sector building initiatives, SEI support for small businesses through its energy management schemes and the Dundalk sustainable energy zone, and additional funding for a further phase of the highly successful greener homes scheme. The new phase of that scheme which was launched in October will promote a new range of additional renewable technologies which are ready for the market and will deliver almost double the emissions savings.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

To allow Deputy Hogan a supplementary question, I ask the Minister to conclude.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister will have to learn to discipline himself if he is to reduce his verbiage by 3%.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will try.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister outlined a number of measures taken or announced by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The measure he referred to with regard to the changing of light bulbs will take effect in 2009. Will the Minister quantify the amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduction for each measure he is announcing? With regard to agriculture, transport, energy and enterprise and employment, I want to get a fix on the impact of each individual initiative the Minister is taking to meet the objective he has set for 2008.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be aware there is a separate question in regard to the phasing out of incandescent light bulbs, which will lead to a saving of approximately 700,000 tonnes per annum. The other measures are ones I have announced, including with regard to greater energy efficiency in housing, which will lead to 40% greater energy efficiency and a saving of 40% in CO2 emissions.

Reference was made to the question of more sustainable transport. As I said on the day, as I am quite open about this, we in the House face an uphill battle with regard to transport. Deputy Barrett, who is Chair of the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, was with me in Bali. I want to work with him and the committee because we can only achieve these deep emissions cuts by working together. A 3% annual reductions target is hugely ambitious but if one considers the fact that transport has increased by approximately 180% since 1990, and a figure I saw just today suggests it may increase to as much as 256% by 2020, it will be understood that we have real difficulties. The carbon budget is a start but we must move from there and work with the joint committee, not just on targets but on measures. The introduction of a carbon levy is vital.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister has indicated a number of measures but we will judge him on the basis of his targets — that is why he is Minister.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I hope the Deputy will support the measures as well.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We will come back to that. Does the Minister agree that the policy on VRT which the Minister introduced in the 2008 budget has achieved just 50,000 tonnes reduction? Transport statistics for 2006 show an increase of 916,000 tonnes.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is what I have just said.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have asked the question twice but will ask it for a third time. Will the Minister tell me the measures he will introduce and quantify what they will mean in terms of emissions reduction in 2008?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have already answered that. The Deputy was present at the carbon budget presentation where I outlined the measures in detail.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Not on transport.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy is correct. Transport is the one area where I believe we have difficulty. The Deputy heard me say that on the day and I repeat it now.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thought the Minister would have reflected on it since then.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am discussing the issue with the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey. He and I must work together on sustainable transport policy.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is what worries me.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

His neck is on the line due to the provisional licences.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Fine Gael is the party that continues to support the use of the private car and the building of all these motorways. That is the situation.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We must move on to the next question. I call Deputy Ciarán Lynch.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Put the Garda escorts on bicycles instead of in a State car.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am not in a Mercedes like Deputy Kenny.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

These are Priority Questions. The only person allowed to address a question is the Deputy in whose name the question is asked.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

If Deputy Kenny stopped heckling me, I would be happy to facilitate the House.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I will leave the Minister alone.