Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his carbon footprint and that of each Minister of State in his Department; the change in this footprint after one year in office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33340/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Using the carbon calculator provided as part of the Government's climate change awareness campaign (www.change.ie), my Department has calculated that the carbon emissions arising from air travel related to my official Ministerial functions since taking up office as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in May of this year to be 0.49 tonnes. Figures in respect of my official travel by car are not readily available and other emissions cannot easily be distinguished from that relating to general Departmental activity. Using the same calculator, the figure in respect of Minister of State Lenihan's air travel from January 2008 to date is 7.82 tonnes. These figures are not calculated in such a fashion as to permit easy comparison over time, or with each other, and reflect of course the extent to which air travel is necessitated in performing official duties over any given period.