Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he has taken to offset the carbon emissions of his State car; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15477/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government recently published the National Climate Change Strategy 2007 to 2012. The strategy reiterates the target, set in the White Paper "Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland", of 33% energy savings across the public sector and commits the Government to the introduction of an Energy Efficiency Programme, with targets and standards, for Government Departments, State Agencies, Local Authorities, the Health Service and the public sector overall. Every public service organisation will be required to adopt specific targets for reducing emissions, and to measure and report progress in their annual reports. In addition, the Strategy requires Government Departments to offset carbon emissions resulting from official air travel. However, the strategy does not contain specific requirements for Government Departments to offset carbon emissions from the use of State cars. The management of the fleet of State cars is, of course, the responsibility of the Garda Síochána. My Department will be adopting measures in line with the strategy to reduce its carbon emissions. The approach is to take measures which will reduce the overall emissions of the Department, rather than to identify individual causes of greenhouse gas emissions and individually seek to offset emissions on an item by item basis.