Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the input his Department has had in the drafting of the proposed climate change Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3743/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is fully committed to playing its part in the efforts to tackle climate change. The EU climate change and renewable energy package aims to deliver the European Union's ambitious commitments to fight climate change and promote renewable energy up to 2020 and beyond.

My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has indicated that he is in the process of developing a National Climate Change Adaptation Framework and a new Climate Change Bill. The background to the Bill is set out in the Government framework document published last December. My Department was consulted on the drafting of the framework document and I expect ongoing consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as development of the Bill progresses through both the drafting and enactment stages. The planned Bill will provide a statutory framework for Ireland's long-term response to climate change. My priority will be to ensure that national policy on the future of the agriculture sector is taken into account.