Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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215. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19126/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Any consideration of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 has to be set in the context of the National Policy Position on climate action and low-carbon development which was published on 23 April 2014. In progressing the Government’s national low-carbon transition agenda, the National Policy Position and the Bill are parallel and complementary pillars.

As set out in the National Policy Position, the National Climate Change Transition Agenda is being guided by a long-term vision of low-carbon transition based on:

- an aggregate reduction in carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions of at least 80% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2050 across the electricity generation, built environment and transport sectors; and

- in parallel, an approach to carbon neutrality in the agriculture and land-use sector, including forestry, which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production.

Furthermore, Ireland is already subject to legally binding greenhouse gas mitigation targets up to the year 2020 as a result of the EU’s Effort Sharing Decision of 2009 and negotiations are currently underway to agree further mitigation targets for each Member State up to the year 2030, and this incremental process of target setting will likely continue up to the year 2050. Accordingly, putting in place our own mitigation targets in domestic legislation would cut across and interfere with this target-setting process at EU level.

The National Expert Advisory Council on Climate Change to be formally established under the Bill, will be independent in the performance of its functions. While it will have a number of ex officiomembers, namely, the heads of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Teagasc, and the Economic and Social Research Institute, they will be a minority of the overall membership. In addition, these ex officiomembers should not be seen as an impediment to independence but, rather, as bringing a much-needed understanding of the practicalities of policy implementation in the main greenhouse gas emitting sectors. They will also offer a wealth of practical expertise and experience gained by those front-line organisations having a strong low-carbon focus. The Council is being established so as to appreciate both the demands of our mitigation targets and the realities of where we are now and it will play a significant role in providing independent and robust advice as we navigate a course towards our mitigation targets, which are ambitious yet achievable.