Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if national emission targets are expected to be achieved on time without detrimental economic impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14951/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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While overall accounting responsibility for national emissions policy is primarily a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Environmental Protection Agency, it is the responsibility of Government as a whole to meet our overall climate change and energy targets. The Government has established a Cabinet subcommittee on climate change and energy security to ensure that a comprehensive and cohesive policy is in place to deliver in these critical policy areas. Already this subcommittee has established a multi departmental senior officials group to address the challenges posed to Ireland in achieving these targets and the work of this group will inform and implement policy in this area and feed in to the new carbon budget process, which my colleague, Minister John Gormley, introduced for the first time last year. This annual carbon budget will report on the effectiveness of our response in meeting these challenging targets.