Martin Brady (Fianna Fail)

I wish the new Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, well for his term of office. I worked with the Minister on Dublin City Council and found him to be a very practical and amenable individual.

I thank Senator Bacik for introducing this important Bill on climate change. The Seanad has a great tradition of publishing Bills and bringing them forward into law. I hope this is the first of many Bills that will be initiated in the House.

As stated by previous speakers, public concern in respect of this issue is very high. Proof of this came to my attention this week with the raft of e-mails I received. These kept my secretary quite busy but I have since calmed her down.

Support for combating climate change undoubtedly exists among both members of the public and the parties in Government. The previous Seanad and Dáil engaged in many interesting debates on energy supply. I look forward to hearing more about this matter and many previous speakers made interesting comments in respect of it.

We are all aware of the imminent and challenging threat posed by climate change. Everyone agrees we need to continue with our concerted efforts to tackle this problem. Scientists have informed us the world must change and that countries must introduce major changes in terms of how they produce and use energy if man-made greenhouse gas emissions are to be reduced and if the potentially disastrous consequences of climate change are to be avoided. While natural variations in climate are normal over time, humans are contributing to climate change through the emission of substantial amounts of greenhouse gases.

Like other Members, I read newspaper reports to the effect that water levels in lakes throughout Europe are falling. For example, the lowest ever level of water — it has dropped by something of the order of two metres — was recorded in Lake Garda in Italy recently. This highlights the problems associated with climate change.

Senator Ellis referred to waste. The latter is created by the manner in which some goods are packaged. Some products in the food industry, for example, are covered in so many layers of plastic that one would need to use a chainsaw to open them. The position in the drinks industry is similar. Many beverages now come in plastic bottles but I am of the view that we should return to using glass bottles because these could be recycled and reused. A great deal of waste is created as a result of the way in which manufacturers in the hardware, electrical industries, etc., package the goods they produce. Much of the packaging to which I refer is unnecessary.

In our industrial and modern society, it is necessary to continue using energy in order that we might continue to live to the standards to which we have become accustomed. However, practical alternatives must be made available. Such alternatives are beginning to come into mainstream use. We should, under Transport 21, encourage transport companies to use natural gas in lieu of petrol or diesel. Approximately 80% of the fleet of the public transport company in Italy uses natural gas. There is no reason we could not encourage the Defence Forces, An Post, Eircom and our public transport company to do likewise.

As a developed country and a member state of the EU, Ireland has a responsibility towards the wider international community. We just cannot state it is someone else's problem and has nothing to do with us. Ireland must play its part in meeting these targets and in dealing with the most important environmental issue the world faces.

To meet our obligations to future generations, there is a requirement on all sectors to play their part. It is our responsibility, in conjunction with the international community, to take increased action and play our part by meeting our commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. The programme for Government contains many objectives designed to prevent possible environmental problems. Each of these outlines clear objectives the Government must and will undoubtedly, under the guidance of the Minister, Deputy Gormley, aim to achieve. Combating climate change is one of the main priorities set out in the programme which aims to dramatically accelerate the growth of renewable energy sources in the electricity, heat and transport sectors.

The Government has already taken action on these issues. Earlier today, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Ryan, announced a commitment to achieving energy efficiency savings of 20% by 2020. In addition, he set a target of 30% for the public sector. Leading by example in the public sector is another clear objective of the plan announced today. For example, all public bodies will purchase energy-efficient lighting by the end of this year. All street and traffic lights will also be energy efficient.

There are also plans in the programme to create new opportunities for farmers by moving agriculture to a new dual system of food and power production. Farmers have worked very hard via the REP scheme over the years and they will undoubtedly facilitate the establishment of a new bio-fuel industry, a matter to which Senator O'Toole referred.

Another associated aspect of this matter is that concerning pollution. We should examine the level of fines relating to pollution. Such fines are a pittance. Some people continue to pollute rivers and lakes because the fines involved are so low that they make no difference.

Previous Governments had clear objectives and commitments in respect of tackling these issues. I concur with the idea of all-party support in this area. I hope the Opposition will give the Minister and the Government its support in tackling the problem of climate change. As Senator Boyle stated, this represents the only way forward. There is no scope for messing about or time wasting.