Vol. 503 No. 6
195 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the way in which Ireland will meet by 2010 the proposed targets for member states under plans drawn up by the Environment Minister, Ritt Bjerregard, which seek to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide by 78 per cent, volatile organic compounds by 60 per cent, oxides of natogin by 55 per cent and ammonia by 21 per cent compared to the 1990 levels; the cost to Ireland of these reductions. [7575/99]
New proposals by the European Commission, not yet formally adopted by the Commission or published, are expected to set national ceilings which would involve significant reductions in emissions of sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, volatile organic compounds and ammonia to be achieved by 2010. The proposals are being developed from a range of options prepared by consultants on behalf of the Commission. While the estimated costs and other implications of a range of scenarios for emission ceilings are now under examination, the measures which may be necessary at EU and national levels and the associated costs, are dependent upon the final ceilings which will be adopted in due course by the Council of Environment Ministers in co-operation with the European Parliament.
