Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress he has made to date in 2008 in achieving the 3% annual reduction in greenhouse gases as laid out in the programme for Government; if the Government is on track to meet this target; the further initiatives planned for 2008 to meet the set target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14405/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I refer to my first carbon budget statement on 6 December 2007 in which I presented an overview of greenhouse gas emissions to date and how they are expected to develop over the next five years. I related these to the programme for Government commitment of an annual average reduction of 3% in emissions, which would equate to a target of 64 million tonnes for our average emissions over the 2008-12 period.

The carbon budget showed that the measures in the national climate change strategy, along with further measures announced since the Government took office, were projected to reduce annual average emissions to 65.6 million tonnes over the 2008-12 period, leaving a gap of around 1.6 million tonnes still to be bridged.

I also outlined the further steps we are taking to deliver more reductions in emissions and which will take us closer to the 3% target. The more successful we are in closing that gap, the less we will have to spend on carbon credits in order to comply with our Kyoto Protocol commitments.

The 2007 carbon budget was only a first step and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will be an ongoing and central feature of the work of Government across every sector. Through the Cabinet Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, my ministerial colleagues and I are looking at what more can be done in the sectors for which we have responsibility. The annual carbon budget will draw together the progress made on developing further policies and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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First, will the Minister give us some indication of what the reduction in CO2 emissions will be in regard to policies he has introduced since he became Minister such as the light bulb, motor tax and building regulations initiatives? What does he expect those particular measures will mean in terms of reductions in CO2 emissions? Second, if there are various reasons he cannot meet his target, will the Minister consider introducing punitive measures in various ways to force Departments other than his own to help meet the 3% target?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I made it clear in the carbon budget that what I was announcing would reduce it by approximately 600,000 tonnes. We have a range of issues across all Departments, which is precisely the reason we put in place the committee, chaired by a member of the Opposition, on climate change. That is a good progressive measure. At Government level we have the energy security and climate change committee, where Ministers from all sectors are represented.

I know the Deputy has further questions on this matter but it is quite clear we have a task, something I recognised on publication of the carbon budget and the awareness-raising campaign. There is a job to be done and all the issues I have addressed, particularly regarding transport and agriculture, will be challenging, to say the least.

We have made a start, however, and I emphasise that 2007 was a turning point, the year in which climate change became an issue. It is only since then that the penny has dropped with all the political parties that this is the defining issue of our age. It is only since then that it has gradually begun to sink in across all sectors. We are now getting a buy-in from IBEC and industry as a whole, as well as the agriculture sector. Everyone realises this is a challenge, allied to the other problem we are facing. This will ensure we will meet our targets.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I wish to get in another supplementary question if I can.

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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With the realities of peak oil, we must make these changes in any case and reduce our carbon footprint.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I agree this is a very serious matter and that is the reason I wish to establish the measures the Minister intends to take to help meet the targets outlined in the programme for Government. In the course of his initial reply, the Minister said he had challenging decisions to make to achieve those objectives. What was the Minister thinking of and what measures will be required to meet those objectives and the programme for Government targets?

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Deputy is well aware of them and I have outlined them a number of times, but I will go through them again if the Deputy so wishes. With regard to energy, we have the renewable energy electricity tariff support scheme, which is facilitating the connection of more renewable energy to the national grid. It will enable Ireland to meet its EU target to generate 13.2% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010. Ireland has set more ambitious national targets of 15% by 2010 and 33% by 2020. There is a target of 30% co-firing of biomass and peat stations, which will reduce the emissions impact of burning peat by using carbon-neutral renewable sources.

The bio-energy action plan provides the basis for Ireland to maximise the benefit of our bio-energy resources in transport, heat and electricity markets. The energy efficiency action plan, which is being finalised by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, aims to achieve a 20% improvement in energy efficiency by 2020, with a 33% improvement in the public sector.

We have also considered the commercial bio-heat programme in the business sector, which provides grants to assist the commercial and services sector switch to wood-chip or wood pellet heating systems, replacing at least 60 million litres of heating oil per year.

Sustainable Energy Ireland provides a range of supports for small and medium enterprises to assess their energy usage and introduce measures to enhance energy efficiency. The Deputy is well aware that I introduced new building regulations, which will reduce energy use by 40% on current standards and a further increase in energy efficiency standards is planned for 2010. As the Deputy knows, I will be aiming for zero emissions by 2016.

In the transport sector, we are looking at technological improvements in vehicles and there is the introduction of a new VRT and motor tax system based on CO2 emissions.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The time for the question has more than expired.