Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures that will be implemented to close the gap of 0.6 million tonnes of carbon emissions that lie between the Kyoto protocol target for 2008 to 2012 and the actual amount of emissions reduced. [7341/07]

Damien English (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he will take as a result of the increase in greenhouse gas emissions here as indicated in the recent Environmental Protection Agency report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7437/07]

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his view on the recent report of the Environmental Protection Agency on greenhouse gas emission data; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7391/07]

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the further steps he will take to decoupling carbon emissions from economic growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7438/07]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he will take to make Ireland meet its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7390/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 158, 160, 172, 173 and 179 together.

I refer to the replies to Question No. 4 of 8 November 2006 and Question No. 126 of 12 December 2006.

Ireland will deliver fully on its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. While the relevant EPA report shows that the downward trend in greenhouse gas emissions was interrupted in 2005, this was expected and in line with projections published by my Department in 2006. The report notes that much of the 2005 increase in Ireland's emissions can be attributed to two factors — the full commissioning in 2005 of new peat-powered electricity plants and the increase in private car ownership.

In a number of sectors, notably the waste, residential and agriculture sectors, emissions are either stable or are on a decreasing trend. Lower emissions in the waste sector can be attributed to the success of my Department's policies on maximising waste diversion from landfill. Lower emissions in the agriculture sector can be attributed to lower livestock levels and decreased fertiliser use.

The stabilisation of greenhouse gas emissions in the residential sector must be put in the context of 81,000 house completions in 2005. I am committed to further strengthening the energy efficiency standards in the Building Regulations and a full review of the scope and structure of the current regulations will underpin the next amendment due in 2008. This will ensure that Ireland's standards are among the biggest in the European Union and that they make the maximum practical contribution to Ireland's Kyoto Protocol commitments.

On the basis of policies and measures already agreed, Ireland is now positioned to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 14.6 million tonnes per annum over the 2008-2012 period. I am preparing a revised National Climate Change Strategy, for publication by April 2007, which will set out the additional measures that will be implemented to close the remaining projected gap for compliance with Ireland's Kyoto Protocol commitments.