Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

Often, Government motions are amusing and this motion is no exception. Senator Boyle believes it might be pompous to raise this subject, but asking us to support and commend the Government on its commitment to develop a policy is amusing.

A Government must be real. Rather than promising to do something in future, it must do something now. Ireland produces too many greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gas emissions in the northern hemisphere must be considered. While the United States of America is the largest producer of CO2, Ireland and Europe do not fall far behind. We should not be proud of our record. Every year, each EU citizen produces 11 tonnes of greenhouse gases and households produce 16% of our emissions. The production of energy accounts for 61% of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions and transport accounts for 21%, half of which comprises freight, to which Senator Walsh referred. The other half comprises private car usage.

The EU is racing to change these figures, but Ireland is lagging behind. According to the European Union Environment Agency's June figures, EU greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 0.7% and Ireland's increased by 2%. While other European countries are improving, we are falling behind. The agency's report led to a statement by Commissioner Dimas to the effect that many states must accelerate their efforts — it is clear that he included Ireland in this — if the EU is to meet its Kyoto Protocol targets.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I regret that the Minister, Deputy Ryan, is not in the House because I have specific questions. I will put them to the Minister of State instead. Why is Ireland not investing sufficiently in renewable energy sources, why do we remain content to burn so much fossil fuel and how will the Minister get a commitment from his Government partners to do something about climate change? I do not doubt his or his party's commitment, but they have not achieved many of their aims since their involvement in Government.

Senator Boyle referred to the debate going down dark alleyways. If he did so with his Government partners, he would go in green and come out black and blue. How does the Green Party expect to get its policies and commitments on energy, climate change and the reduction of greenhouse gases through the rest of the Cabinet? I would welcome the Minister of State's opinion.

It is not right that Senators must listen to self-congratulatory motions lauding the Government on its commitments for the future when we are lagging behind other European nations. My party and I will support the Fine Gael amendment. It might be distasteful for the Government, but the amendment reflects reality. The 1997 Kyoto Agreement places tight obligations on us. We were not supposed to exceed a 13% increase in CO2 emissions between 1997 and the turn of this decade, but they have increased by 180%. Leaving carbon trading aside, nothing has been done by the Government. It is not fair to tell the House that the Government wishes to meet its Kyoto Protocol targets in some way or another after Ireland has already exceeded those targets.

The Government cannot deny that a mere 4.5% of our energy is supplied by renewable sources and that fossil fuels account for 93%, but its Senators will vote against the amendment. It is not right for them to do so or for the Government to try to deny that the use of fossil fuels in transport has exploded by 150% in the past 15 years. The Government is disinterested in solving the issue. If it were interested, it would support the Fine Gael recommendations.

One sixth of our emissions comes from housing. We must prioritise areas in which we allow housing to develop. There is a great deal of zoned land, but it should be given to developers who will produce and build eco-residential towns and estates rather than monolithic rows of houses. The estates should take into account energy conservation and the recycling of waste water supplies and provide more cycle and pedestrian paths and live-work units so that people need not travel to work. We must examine how we design and prioritise the development of our towns and villages. We must think about how we produce our energy. The amendment calls for a review of the national spatial strategy to cater for major renewable energy infrastructure sources. As 60% of our emissions come from energy production, it is vital that we re-examine how we produce energy. We must examine wind farming and offshore energy.

Transport accounts for 21% of our emissions. We must improve the public transport network and supply to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and take the nearest bus or rail line. Thousands of people travel to Dublin every day on trains. The train service from Dundalk to Drogheda is packed virtually every day of the week. People, including pregnant women, have to stand because the seats are taken. It is also difficult for disabled people to find space. We cannot hope to encourage more people onto transport without first providing facilities for them.

I would like the catchment area for rail services to be expanded. The Navan-Dublin rail line should be prioritised, as should schemes such as the re-opening of stations to make them more accessible and closer to centres of population. I refer the Minister of State to potential schemes such as new stations at Killucan. I would be interested to know his views on expanding the rail network and the number of stations to encourage as many people as possible onto public transport. I will not support this motion because enough has not been done. If we are serious about tackling climate change we must do better and do it soon.