Vol. 482 No. 6
161 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she has satisfied herself that the commitments entered into by the Government regarding CO 2 emissions are compatible with the energy forecasts in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18621/97]
As part of the EU negotiating position for a draft UN Protocol on Climate Change to be completed in Kyoto in December 1997, the indicative position adopted by the Government earlier this year regarding greenhouse gas emissions, including CO 2, for Ireland was based, inter alia, on energy forecasts provided by my Department to the Department of the Environment in February 1997. The energy projections envisaged an increase in CO 2 emissions by 2010 commensurate with known economic growth forecasts at that time.
Since then higher economic growth forecasts to 2010 have been published. A consequence of this is higher forecasts for energy use and CO 2 emissions.
International negotiations on climate change are an evolving and developing process. My Department is one of a number of Departments engaged in consultations and exchanges of information with the Department of the Environment and Local Government which has the lead role in the climate change negotiations. I have conveyed to the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the latest energy forecasts for consideration as part of the interdepartmental liaison on the matter.
