Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will review the 3% annual reduction target in climate change in the programme for Government 2007 which he has failed to achieve to date; the changes proposed to address this failure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25646/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Ireland will meet its greenhouse gas emission limitation target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol in the period 2008-2012. In the longer-term, initially to 2020 but ultimately to 2050, significant structural change will be required across all sectors of the economy and society as a whole to achieve an effective transition to a low-carbon future.

The renewed Programme for Government 2009 affirms the commitment to a target of 3% annual average reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This commitment is reflected in the Framework for the Climate Change Bill 2010 which I published in December 2009. The Bill will, on enactment, provide a statutory basis for the core national priority of major and continued reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the context of transition. Work on drafting the Heads of the Bill is an advanced stage and, following Government consideration, I intend to announce further details shortly.