Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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353. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if Ireland was represented at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that took place from 3 - 14 June 2013, under the direction of Executive Secretary, Christiana Figueres; if so, if he will outline Ireland's contribution at the conference and the positions taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29392/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The inter-sessional UNFCCC climate c onference, which took place in Bonn, Germany from 3 - 14 June 2013, comprised the 38th sessions of the technical bodies underpinning the Convention - the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). In addition, the second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Pl atform for Enhanced Action (ADP 2 ) , charged with delivering a new global agreement to combat climate change by 2015 and increase ambition before 2020, also convened.

EU positions, developed over previous months and submitted to the UNFCCC Secretariat during the Irish Presidency , in many cases framed the negotiations under the ADP workstream, including in relation to a process to encourage Parties to make ambitious commitments under the 2015 agreement and an EU proposal to encourage a phase-down of HFCs as part of a drive to increase mitigation ambition in the period between 2013 and 2020, when the new 2015 global agreement is due to come into effect .

In relation to the meetings of the technical bodies, it was disappointing that procedural difficulties led to the SBI not being able to undertake any formal work; however , significant progress was made under the SBSTA, including on a number of EU priority areas like rules on reporting and market mechanisms, with the objective of increasing transparency and ensuring environmental integrity of mitigation activities . In addition, for the first time, significant progress was made in relation to agriculture , with agreement reached by all Parties to start technical work at the next meeting in Warsaw in November 2013 .

Ireland was represented at the Bonn session by a multi-disciplinary team from my Department and a number of other Government Departments and Agencies. In addition to specific contributions on technical elements by individual members of the delegation, in its EU Presidency role, Ireland led and co - ordinated EU engagement at the inter-sessional meeting .