Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the Government views on the automatic trigger to increase Europe's greenhouse gas emission reductions from a 20% to a 30% reduction by 2020 following a global climate deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44741/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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The Government is fully committed to the EU position in the international negotiations on a global climate agreement. The EU position is that developed countries should take the lead in action to address climate change by committing to collectively reducing their emissions in the order of 30% by 2020 compared to 1990. In this context, the European Council has endorsed an EU objective of a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 1990, as its contribution to a global and comprehensive agreement for the period beyond 2012, provided that other developed countries commit themselves to comparable emissions reduction and that economically more advanced developing countries contribute adequately according to their responsibilities and respective capabilities. In this context, the EU has called on all developed countries to propose, not later than mid-2009, economy-wide medium-term targets that involve a comparable level of effort.

Notwithstanding this international position, the European Council is committed to transforming Europe into a highly energy-efficient and low greenhouse-gas-emitting economy, and has decided, without prejudice to its position in international negotiations, to make a firm, independent commitment to achieve at least a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 1990. The adjustment to the higher target as part of an international climate agreement needs to be built explicitly into the climate legislative proposals.

Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the Government views on the use of funds derived from the auctioning of emission permits within the EU, as part of the EU emissions trading scheme to be spent supporting developing countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44742/08]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Ireland's position, under successive Governments, on the mandatory hypothecation of Exchequer revenues in EU legislation is well known. It is a matter for the EU Member States to determine the use of such revenues. In this context, the Government will determine, in accordance with the relevant legislative and budgetary framework, the use of the revenues generated from the auctioning of allowances in the EU Emissions Trading System. Furthermore, the Government is determined to fulfil its commitments that will be agreed as part of a future global and comprehensive climate agreement for the period beyond 2012 in Copenhagen in 2009.