Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach the number of Cabinet sub-committee on climate change meetings which have been held; and the number of times he has attended these meetings. [18718/09]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach the number of meetings of the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change he has attended. [19794/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach the number of times the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change has met. [20717/09]

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach the number of occasions on which he attended the sub-committee on climate change and the number of times that it has met in 2009. [24059/09]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 5: To ask the Taoiseach the membership of the Cabinet sub-committee on health; the number of times it has met since June 2007. [20718/09]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet sub-committee on climate change and energy security has met nine times since August 2007 when it was established. The most recent meeting was on 29 April last.

I also chair the Cabinet sub-committee on health. The other members are the Ministers for Health and Children and Finance and the Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs. Other Ministers who are not members of a Cabinet sub-committee may attend meetings where appropriate. This committee has met on 13 occasions since June 2007. Its most recent meeting was on Wednesday, 27 May, and it is next scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 22 July.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I thank the Taoiseach for his reply, but he did not tell us how many times he attended. Can I take it from his reply that he attended all the climate change sub-committee meetings?

On climate change law, could the Taoiseach clarify his position on the introduction of a climate change Bill to this House? Does he concur with the view of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, who stated that the Bill would be introduced to the House before the end of this year? The Minister indicated that the Bill will be on a par with the United Kingdom legislation.

On the forthcoming global conference in Copenhagen in six months' time, in his role as chair of the sub-committee, does the Taoiseach not consider it would be helpful, in order to ensure we reach a wise and significant conclusion, if he were to lead the delegation to the global conference in Copenhagen at the end of the year? This would show the leadership that the Minister, Deputy Gormley, has called for on a number of occasions.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy is extending the remit of the question somewhat but we will see how helpful the Taoiseach can be on it.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, all Cabinet meetings are conducted under the principle of collective responsibility, so providing specific detail on the attendance at the meetings would impinge on that principle. That is only to say that I think I have attended them all.

The question on legislation is a matter for Government to consider at any time. Our commitment is as outlined in the programme for government. On the question of my attendance in Copenhagen, that is a matter that can be decided upon closer to the time. The European Union, working collectively on the matter, is seeking to prepare for that conference under the able chairmanship of the new Danish Prime Minister. We will continue to work in that way with him.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I wish to ask a brief supplementary on the EU position, which is that the targets should be increased to 30% by 2020, if there is agreement globally. Is that the Taoiseach's position, and will he promote it as Ireland's position?

On climate change legislation, the Minister has now stated that there will be a Bill, which he expects will be introduced before the end of the year. Is that the Taoiseach's position? The Bill is not in the programme for Government so there is not much point in referring to that programme.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Those are matters for the line Minister.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Those are matters for the line Minister. They are policy issues. As a general principle it is open to Ministers to bring forward any proposal to Government for approval and it is up to the Government to decide to approve it. We operate under a collective authority.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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He has not done so yet.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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No, that has not occurred yet. On the other matter the Deputy raised, the EU's objective is that a new international treaty will be agreed at the conference of the parties at the Copenhagen meeting in December 2009 to come into effect when the five-year commitment under the Kyoto Protocol expires at the end of 2012. Ireland remains fully supportive of that position. We are hopeful that a global deal can be reached in Copenhagen. It is on the basis of getting a global deal that we improve our targets.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I assume this committee does not meet for the sake of meeting, but that it has targets and objectives. The current legislative agenda and the website of the Office of the Taoiseach states that during this session the Government would publish legislation to support offshore energy development through the modernisation of the planning process, but there is no mention of that in the recently published Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2009. Will the Taoiseach explain that contradiction? I have raised before the fact that the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security, chaired by Deputy Seán Barrett, published a Bill on this matter. Following analysis by the committee, will the Government commit to accepting the Bill given that it failed to produce its own? Does the Taoiseach intend to include offshore energy projects as part of the critical infrastructure Bill in view of their importance?

In a letter dated 15 May 2009, the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government, Professor Cunningham, a very able man, referred in particular to the harnessing of wind power to pump seawater to storage reservoirs. He made the point that, in principle, such as system could actually supply the full power requirements of this country. He stated in the letter to the Minister that there are at least 50 sites throughout the country where the system could be implemented and that a reservoir of 2 sq. km would supply 1 GW of electricity, which is the equivalent of the output of Moneypoint. He also stated the planned upgrading of the electricity grid, costing €11 billion, could be obviated by investment in these kinds of generation systems, and that costings indicate it should be a highly profitable investment both for the country and private investors. He stated the overall cost of achieving energy independence is between €10 billion and €12 billion. Has the climate change sub-committee considered this?

Is it the case that the committee does not set out the big picture from the Taoiseach's perspective and have line Ministers follow through? The letter from the Chief Scientific Adviser is very important. In it, he sets out his position formally. It is very clear and we have advocated it on this side of the House for some time. Has the sub-committee the Taoiseach chairs actually considered the big-picture objectives and targets?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Deputy went beyond the remit of the questions laid down. Anyway, the Taoiseach can be helpful to Deputy Kenny.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Cabinet sub-committees comprise an integral part of the Cabinet process and questions about the business conducted at Cabinet or Cabinet sub-committee meetings have never been allowed in the House on the grounds that it is internal to the Government. The reasons for this approach, as the Deputy knows, are founded on sound policy principles and the need to avoid infringing the constitutional protection of Cabinet confidentiality. Questions relating to particular policy issues should be directed to the relevant Minister.

To be helpful to Deputy Kenny, I can only say that all major issues applying to the climate change agenda have been discussed at various times in respect of the nine meetings held since 7 August. The question of energy security has been dealt with in the context of the implementation of the White Paper on energy, brought forward by the former Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Noel Dempsey, and subsequently implemented by the current Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Eamon Ryan. There is a commitment to increasing the wind energy component of our national energy grid to the tune of 30% by 2020. Considerable work on the matter is ongoing. The volatility of oil prices and the difficulties we are having in bringing onshore a very substantial national asset off the coast of Deputy Kenny's constituency further emphasise the need for the energy security agenda to be supported by every Member of the House.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I obviously do not want to know the content of the minutes of the Cabinet sub-committee meeting, although I would like to. I hope we can find out some time.

One key obstacle in this country is the cost of wind energy production.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It would be more in order if the Deputy addressed that question to the line Minister.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I understand that. Let me just put this point on the record.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Taoiseach cannot be expected to answer these questions.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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It is a load of hot air.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I would like to believe the Cabinet sub-committee would have considered or would consider in its deliberations, which it will not make public, the fact that our costs are 50% above the European average. This needs to be addressed. I hope the sub-committee has considered the creation of a permit system for wind farms because at the present rate of dealing with these it will be 20 years before applicants get through the queue gate that is installed. Where there is community good will, with community leaders and people who want to set up wind farms and either have permission or are very likely to get it, there is no possibility of their being connected to the grid system in under 20 years given the current state of processing. That is not as it should be if the big picture is the achievement of energy independence inside ten to 15 years.

The Cabinet sub-committee should have a real interest in this. The Taoiseach might like to refer to that.

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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We have to stop using statistical questions to make policy statements or to seek policy-----

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is not hot air-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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Whether it is cold or hot it does not matter.

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To be helpful, it is important to point out that there are wind energy projects coming onto the grid now which is up to 12% or 14% in terms of capacity. We are well on course to meet our wind energy targets, ambitious though they are, for our future energy requirements. I will ask the Minister to see if there is anything in what Deputy Kenny says about pre-planning issues that would enable the expeditious consideration of these projects in a helpful way.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Taoiseach advise us of the membership of the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change? For example, is the Minister for Transport a member of that sub-committee? Given that public transport is a matter of concern, not only for those of us who would like to see more of it, does increased public transport not discourage the use of cars and reduce carbon emissions? I expect the Taoiseach also holds that view. Does he not believe that it would be important to call an emergency meeting of the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change given Bus Éireann's announcement of its decision to cut 162 buses and 320 staff over the coming weeks?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is very creative but we cannot go into it now.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Would this matter not be of concern to the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change given the serious and deleterious side-effects of that decision not only in terms of transport but also of carbon emissions?

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is not possible to talk about buses now.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I am sorry that the Taoiseach lumped the question about the sub-committee on health with the others on climate change. His reply was unclear. Did he say that since the general election of June 2007 there had been 13 meetings of that sub-committee?

Is the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for children a member of that sub-committee? Does it deal with matters relevant to his portfolio or is there another Cabinet sub-committee to deal with children? I am anxious about this because of the increased concern about child supports, the inadequacy of social workers, the lack of accommodation, the disconnected and dysfunctional services------

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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This is beginning to sound like an odyssey. We cannot have an odyssey on Question Time.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Would these not also be valid reasons for that committee, or whichever one is responsible, to oversee child care provision in terms of State support-----

John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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That is a new drift.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Would such a meeting be called to address these matters with some urgency?

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I chair the Cabinet sub-committee on climate change and energy security and the membership includes the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Health and Children, the Minister for Transport, the Attorney General and the Minister of State with responsibility for energy and the environment.

In a previous reply I detailed the number of times the sub-committee has met to deal with various issues, including important decisions made on climate change during the past two years and in preparation for the meeting in Copenhagen. Many of them are dealt with at EU level, which involves co-ordinating positions and ensuring that particular Irish concerns are taken into account on the sequestration of carbon, forestry and all the technical matters that come into play when assessing where the burden sharing is to take place and in what way Ireland's interests are being protected and fair play is given to the country, given the particular characteristics of our farming and forestation, in line with the cases made by other countries and sought by the Presidency, in this case the French Presidency, as it seeks to pull together a common EU position in preparation for the Copenhagen meeting in December which is a wider international negotiating forum.

This is a continuing requirement and the Cabinet sub-committee is there to consider the technical details, the state of negotiations and the contribution made by various Departments and what studies are being done. These can be dealt with more efficiently and effectively at a Cabinet sub-committee meeting than as part of a wider Cabinet discussion where there are many issues on the agenda in any event given the time constraints involved.

With regard to the Cabinet sub-committee on health, the Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs attends its meetings and it deals with broad policy issues and challenges in the health service. It has met on the occasions mentioned by Deputy Ó Caoláin and child protection issues were discussed at its most recent meeting. The Minister of State with responsibility for children has been asked by the Government to prepare a detailed implementation plan arising out of the Ryan report to be brought to the Government prior to the end of July.