Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has met with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding its national allocation plan for emissions trading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4046/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I have not met with the Environmental Protection Agency regarding the national allocation plan for the trading period 2005-2007.

Under the European Communities (Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading) Regulations 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency is the designated competent authority in Ireland for EU Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the community. The regulations also assign responsibility to the agency for developing national allocation plans for the trading periods prescribed in the scheme.

While it is a matter for the Government to decide on the total quantity of allowances to be allocated to the trading sector for each period and for my Department to provide policy direction to the agency in this regard, it is the agency that determines the individual allocations to installations in the trading sector. In addition to developing national allocation plans, it is also a matter for the agency to seek and obtain the necessary approval from the European Commission prior to implementing them.

My Department is in ongoing contact with the agency on policy matters relating to the climate change agenda, including emissions trading and the national allocation plan for 2005-2007.