Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 80: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position regarding the need for Ireland to achieve its Kyoto targets by real reductions in carbon emissions as opposed to reductions by purchasing carbon credits or reductions by accounting for carbon sinks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35151/07]

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 95: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the policy framework in which he will reach Government targets of reducing emissions by 3% a year and bring Ireland in line with Kyoto emissions targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35273/07]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to answer Question Nos. 80 and 95 together.

I refer to the reply to Question No. 61 on today's Order Paper.

According to Article 2 of the Kyoto Protocol, the protection and enhancement of sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases and the promotion of sustainable forest management practices, afforestation and reforestation are among the policies the Parties may implement to meet their respective commitments. The rules of the Protocol allow Parties to include sequestration from net afforestation since 1990, i.e. sequestration from the planting of new forest since 1990, less the effects of deforestation over the same period.

Current estimates indicate that the average annual effect of sinks eligible for accounting under the Kyoto Protocol during the 2008-12 period will be 2.074 million tonnes. This estimate represents approximately 15% of total emissions savings of 13.6 million tonnes resulting from measures set out in the National Climate Change Strategy.