Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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18. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the merits of raising the issue of aviation emissions as part of the EU emissions trading system as part of our EU presidency commencing in July 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67973/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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During Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will take place in the second half of 2026, Ireland will set the agenda and drive policy and legislative work across all ministerial formations. My Department will lead our fellow Member States on issues of importance across the Energy and Environment Councils. In consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, officials in my Department are developing high-level thematic priorities which will guide policy development and our hierarchy of priorities.

Since 2012 the aviation sector has been included in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Aircraft operators operating flights within the European Economic Area must monitor, report and verify their CO2 emissions and surrender allowances against those emissions.

The scope of the EU ETS is currently temporarily limited to flights within the European Economic Area, in order to support the development of a global measure by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). This measure is known as Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). In the context of the launch of CORSIA, this limitation has been extended several times.

This limitation on scope is due to expire at the start of 2027 and the European Commission has committed to carrying out an assessment by July 2026. This assessment will consider whether further action should be taken with regard to flights in and out of Europe, in line with the criteria set out in the EU ETS Directive (Directive (EU) 2003/87/EC). Further to this assessment the Commission will consider a legislative proposal to amend the Directive to ensure alignment with EU and global climate goals.

During its Presidency, Ireland will play a key role in advancing the review of EU ETS, scheduled for Q3 2026, and will ensure that appropriate consideration is given to the assessment relating to aviation and any legislative proposal made by the Commission.