Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I support Senator O'Toole's point about the Kyoto Protocol. Ireland tries to conform to this protocol even though it is only a small economy compared to the US and Russia. The implications of the Kyoto Protocol, in particular the emissions directives and carbon taxes, will be felt severely by businesses in Ireland in the very near future. Given that President Bush is beholden to the oil industry, it is horrendous that a major economy such as the United States of America will not conform to the Kyoto Protocol. In the long-term interest of the environment, Europe should lead an initiative to encourage such countries to conform to these protocols.