Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I wish to share time with my colleagues, Senators Quinn and Norris. I will speak for three minutes.

I welcome the Minister to the House. All of us recognise and appreciate his genuine commitment to developing an effective policy on energy security and tackling climate change. However, the Fine Gael amendment deserves our support because it recognises, realistically, the true extent of the challenges we face in developing that sort of policy.

In that regard, I want to mention a Bill I introduced in the House on 3 October that Senator Coffey has already mentioned, the Climate Protection Bill currently on the Order Paper and for the debate on which the Minister's colleague, Deputy Gormley, was present in the House. I am delighted to say the Bill got general cross-party support and will be debated again in Government time in the House in December.

The idea of a Bill would underline and emphasise the Government's commitment to policy in this area. An Oireachtas committee is one thing, and it is welcome, but it does not go as far as legislation and does not go far enough to secure binding commitments from this and future Governments to meeting what the Minister has described as both our short-term and long-term commitments to reducing climate change. The Bill sets an ongoing statutory goal of reducing emissions by at least 3% per year, starting from 2010, and also includes the long-term goal of reducing emissions by at least 60% in 2050. All of those relate to Kyoto commitments to which Ireland has already signed up. It is not a radical proposal but it is one that would secure a commitment beyond the security provided by the political promises in a programme for Government.

This programme for Government is to be welcomed. It is radical in its approach to climate change and energy security yet we have seen in the past political promises being made and broken on vital issues like hospital waiting lists and road safety. We have seen promises not being met because they are not underscored and emphasised by a legislative commitment and sanctions. That is what the Bill, which I commend to the House, represents and that is why I ask the Government to support it. I support the Fine Gael amendment.