Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Barrett for tabling this amendment, which calls for a shortening of the timeframe for the climate change advisory council to conduct its first periodic review from 18 months after establishment to six months. The first periodic review will be a very important one in that it is specifically charged with analysing the progress made in meeting our mitigation targets up to the year 2020 under the European Union's effort-sharing decision of 2009. While I understand the reasons the Senator and others wish to have the timeframe shortened, we must be realistic in terms of affording the council sufficient time to carry out an extremely important task. As Senators are aware, the council is not a full-time entity, although it will have at its disposal a secretariat provided by the Environmental Protection Agency. It is in the process of bedding down its operational structures so as to begin its work of collating and analysing all available and relevant information and data. Therefore, it would not be reasonable to expect the council to do all of this and turn around a major review of national mitigation policy and implementation in Ireland within just six months.

We all want a deep analysis, and the first periodic review report must be a substantive and challenging body of work that genuinely adds value to the work being undertaken by the State's institutions in achieving progress on mitigation. We must therefore afford the council a reasonable period to do its job. It is important to note in this respect that 18 months is a maximum timeline only and it allows flexibility in terms of successfully completing the first periodic review.

I appreciate the thrust of the amendment and that the Senator does not want any unnecessary delays. I reiterate, however, that the prescribed period of 18 months by which the council is to complete its work is a maximum term. A timeframe of six months is too short for such a notable and important task. I cannot support the amendment.