Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the discussions he has held with his EU counterparts regarding climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5572/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I have discussions with my European Union counterparts and the Commissioner for Climate Action on an on-going basis, including bilaterally and at the Council of Ministers when it meets in its environment formation, on matters concerning climate change.

In the second half of 2012, I engaged in an intensive round of bilateral discussions with my counterparts focused on key policy and legislative proposals on which I hope to make significant progress during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, including:

- planned Council Conclusions by June 2 013 to lay the groundwork for a European Climate Adaptation Strategy;

- proposed changes to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (to strengthen the price of carbon with the scheme, and to pause certain provisions temporarily in order to facilitate on-going negotiations on a possible international market-based measure to address greenhouse gas emissions from the aviation sector);

- proposals to confirm ambitious 2020 carbon dioxide ( CO 2 ) emissions targets from new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles;

- proposals to review the application, effects and adequacy of the regulation of fluorinated greenhouse gases; and

- a proposal for a Directive to amend existing EU legislation on the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.