Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she is making a submission to the EU regarding the directive on the revision of the EU emissions trading system; her views regarding the inclusion of the agriculture sector as part of this review in view of the significant contribution that the agriculture sector makes to greenhouse gas emissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15740/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The review of the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS), by means of the amendment of Directive 2003/87/EC, is being undertaken in the context of the implementation of the Commission's proposals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Over 11,000 installations currently participate in the EU ETS. This includes over one hundred Irish installations, 33 of which are in the dairy, food or drinks sector. My officials are closely monitoring developments in the review process, and met representatives of installations that participate in the Emission Trading Scheme on April 23 to discuss issues relating to the dairy, food and drinks sector in the context of post-2012 emission trading and the Commission's proposals to amend the current Directive. I am committed to making all efforts necessary to defend the best interests of all participating Irish installations.

Emissions from primary agriculture are accounted for in the non-ETS sector, which under the Commission's proposals for 2020 has a specific national emissions reduction target, and there are no proposals to deal with these emissions under the Emission Trading Directive.