Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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204. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will resist proposals by the European Commission in the review of the national emission ceiling directive currently taking place to introduce methane reduction targets that could impinge on Irish agriculture, as methane emissions are already covered under the European Union's climate policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35072/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Methane is a greenhouse gas which is a cause of climate change and a source of air pollution which impacts on health and the environment, including crop productivity. Although predominantly produced by agricultural activity, other sectors, for example, waste management, also produce significant amounts of methane.

While the original European Commission proposal include d methane among the pollutants to be addressed by the new NEC Directive, the current European Council Presidency proposal does not now include methane.

Ireland is committed to addressing both climate change and the health and environment all impacts of air pollution from a range of sources. As such, I am broadly supportive of the establishment of ambitious targets for the pollutants relevant to the negotiations on reform of the NEC Directive and EU climate policy. It is important, however, that such targets are realistic and can be cost effectively delivered. In this context, my Department is in on-going contact with both the European Commission and the relevant Government Departments, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in relation to specific targets for pollutants emanating from agriculture.