Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

We all welcome the announcement today that the Government is to launch a €15 million campaign to alert the country to the dangers of climate change and suggest what can be done about it. The campaign is based on a five-year strategy and will make the public aware of how it can meet the goals agreed under the Kyoto Protocol. According to this agreement, we must reduce our emissions level to 13% above the level that existed in 1990. At present, the level is 25% above it and the latest statistics indicate a disimprovement. I was therefore glad to hear of the Government's campaign.

It was reported that emissions in the United States decreased by 1.5% last year. Next week the US Senate will debate a Bill on climate change and it hopes to put in law the requirement to reduce emissions by 60% over the next 40 years. This is good news in respect of one of the world's greatest polluters in terms of emissions. Many countries seem to be making real changes to lower emissions. Will the Leader press upon the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the need to proceed with the Climate Protection Bill, which was debated in this House almost two months ago?

I was glad to see that Cathal Guiomard of the Commission for Aviation Regulation intends to name and shame airlines that fail to provide compensation to passengers who experience delays or suffer from the loss of or damage to their baggage. The number of passenger complaints has trebled in the past two years and one in four complaints to the European Consumer Centre relates to the airline industry. Some chief executives of the industry have very thick skins when complaints are made. It is fair to recognise the tremendous benefits new airline entrants have brought to the Irish market, not only in terms of tourism but also in terms of the ability of emigrants to return home to visit their loved ones at a frequency that was never envisaged years ago. Passenger rights legislation was introduced in 2005 but it is clear that airlines do not seem to be making it easy for passengers to enjoy these rights and receive compensation where required. Will the Minister for Transport monitor this and introduce further legislation to deal with the airlines if necessary?