Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to clarify for Senator Barrett that this is essentially a practical matter regarding how to disseminate the information contained in the publications. Senator Keane's interpretation of the wording is correct. The proposed amendment calls for the complete removal of the reference to the Environmental Protection Agency in decisions concerning the means of publication of the annual and periodic review reports. The current text reflects the fact that the EPA will provide back office support to the climate change expert advisory council. The agency is best placed to offer advice on the best means of publication, whether this is in hard copy, online, in bilingual form or a combination of these. The current text refers only to the means of publication and does not relate to the content of the reports. The EPA will not change the content of the publications but will simply facilitate, from a practical point of view, how best to disseminate the pertinent information and publications. For this reason, I will not accept the amendments.