Results 8,641-8,660 of 8,873 for speaker:Batt O'Keeffe

Written Answers — Fire Stations: Fire Stations (14 Dec 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Provision has been made under the fire services capital programme for the Ballymote fire station project to be advanced to construction by the end of 2006. This project will be funded through grant aid from my Department subject to agreement on scale and cost. My Department awaits the submission of design drawings and a cost plan for the project from Sligo County Council. Any issues regarding...

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Bill seeks to place an obligation on the Government to reduce its emissions to up to 30% below 1990 levels by 2020 and up to 80% by 2050. These are huge reductions in the context of Ireland's current emissions of 25% above 1990 values. My colleagues have explained the implications of these reductions for Ireland. Targets such as these are all very well but no country would sign up to any...

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——which have the potential to do that much damage to its competitiveness and economy.

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The figures in the Bill are EU proposals for reductions in the context of international negotiations on the period after 2012 and are not in any way binding.

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government has made it very clear that there are real reasons of principle and practicality for objecting to this Bill. The objection in principle relates to enshrining in legislation targets that properly belong in the arena of Government policy. The practical objection is that there is no firm basis for the targets. The figures used are not legally binding on any other country and even...

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: This practical reason for opposing the Bill has been well exemplified by my colleagues on the Government benches. As speakers have pointed out, this Bill does not contain any information on how Ireland would achieve such reductions. The Green Party, as proposer of the Bill, has not spelt out the measures necessary to achieve these targets. The party and its colleagues in Opposition have...

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——affecting every sector——

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——from agriculture and food processing to pharmaceuticals and semi-conductor manufacture. Deputy Boyle would hate to see all the pharmaceutical industries in Ringaskiddy in his constituency being affected.

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Green Party may have a principled opposition to dirty industry but Irish industry is already regulated to the highest standards by the Environmental Protection Agency and many of the firms in these industries are already reducing their emissions through the EU emissions trading scheme. This Bill would destroy Irish industry——

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——by imposing on it targets that are unrealistic and unachievable. It would mean the closure of major companies such as Intel and Aughinish Alumina and the decline of our pharmaceutical sector and cement industry.

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Government cannot accept a Bill that would lay waste to vast sectors of the economy given that it has taken so long for the economy to get on its feet.

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Opposition Deputies have spoken about the potential impact climate change is having and will have. It is accepted, and scientific research has confirmed, that climate change will impact on Ireland. The adoption by Ireland of overly ambitious targets to reduce emissions will not solve that problem on its own, however. Targets need to be agreed and adopted internationally——

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——and it is only in the international forum that countries acting together can begin to bring climate change under control. Ireland's climate change policy is situated squarely within the existing international climate change framework.

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Ireland accepts the scientific evidence of climate change and accepts what needs to be done to address the problem.

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: It is committed to fulfilling its targets under the Kyoto Protocol and is committed to working with its international partners to build an international framework to succeed the protocol. Ireland is addressing its Kyoto commitment through the national climate change strategy, through emissions trading for industry and through the use of the flexible mechanisms——

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——in the Kyoto Protocol to purchase credits for carbon reductions elsewhere in the world.

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: The Minister, Deputy Roche, spoke about some of the achievements in Ireland's climate change policies and some of the areas that have potential for the future. This is the Government's approach. It is a sensible approach grounded in the economic realities and constraints that Ireland faces. There is nothing in this Bill that makes me or the Government confident that its proposers are aware of...

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: ——the public deserves to know what is on offer to it.

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: Deputy Crowe does not seem to be aware that big businesses have been made fully responsible for achieving their share of the necessary reductions in emissions. The Minister explained quite clearly last night that every single firm that is a major emitter of carbon dioxide is now required, by law, to participate in the EU emissions trading scheme. If they do not achieve the necessary...

Climate Change Targets Bill 2005: Second Stage (Resumed). (30 Nov 2005)

Batt O'Keeffe: A rare opportunity.