Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 39: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the carbon footprint of his Department for 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15474/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The carbon footprint of my Department for 2006 is not available. Greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the public sector in general, arise from energy use in public sector buildings. These are not reported on separately in the annual Environment Protection Agency's National Inventory Report but are included in the emissions from the Industry, Commercial and Services sector. Specific data for the public sector in general and for my Department in particular are, therefore, not available for 2006. However, under the National Climate Change Strategy 2007 – 2012 it is understood that specific data on greenhouse gas emissions will be collated from now on in respect of the public sector in general by the Environment Protection Agency and my Department will liaise with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the matter.

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps he is taking to offset the carbon emissions caused by official travel of Ministers and staff of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15480/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I presume the Deputy's question relates to air travel. As outlined in the National Climate Change Strategy 2007 – 2012, the Government, pending the inclusion of aviation in the Emissions Trading Scheme, has decided that it will voluntarily introduce a carbon-offsetting scheme for all air travel on Government business, including flights by Ministers and by civil servants, from the beginning of the Kyoto commitment period in January 2008. Practical arrangements will be put in place to enable each Department to compute annually the emissions associated with its air travel and to make a contribution to an appropriate fund to secure verified emission reductions of an equivalent amount. My Department will, of course, comply with this Government decision.