Trevor Sargent
Question:6 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will make a full statement on the EPA's millennium report. [18794/00]
Other Questions. - EPA Report.
Ireland's Environment: A Millennium report concludes that, overall, Ireland's environmental quality remains relatively good in comparison with that of most other European countries. The report also recognises that economic growth is placing increasing pressure on the environment as can be seen, for example, in eutrophication of inland waters, growing waste volumes and rising greenhouse gas emissions.
Eutrophication is identified as perhaps Ireland's most serious environmental problem. The phosphorous regulations made in 1998, record levels of investment in water services under the new national development plan, development of catchment management strategies, use of nutrient management planning, phase-out of phosphate-based domestic laundry detergents and implementation of REPS are among the key measures we are taking to secure and maintain good water quality.
The regional waste management plans being developed within our policy framework, Changing Our Ways, will be integrated strategies building on the recognised hierarchy of prevention, minimisation, reuse/recycling and, finally, safe disposal. Some £650 million is earmarked for capital investment in waste management infrastructure under the national plan.
On climate change, we have a challenging target under the Kyoto Protocol. I will shortly bring to Government for approval a national greenhouse gas abatement strategy to set the framework for meeting Ireland's Kyoto target. The EPA report recognises that individuals, through choices in their daily lives, can play a major role in helping to protect and enhance the environment. The national environmental awareness campaign aims at getting this message across.
The report makes a major contribution to awareness and debate on the environment and on sustainable development in Ireland. It will inform and guide policy making and individual action in these areas in the years ahead.
Does the Minister accept that the EPA millennium report is a clear indictment of his tenure in office which has been a total failure? On foot of it, why has he not done the honourable thing and resigned his position?
Tomorrow.
Why is it that he continues to blame others for his failures and does not accept that the buck stops with him? Is he not ashamed that the EU continues to take infringement proceedings against us for breaches of EU Directives? Is he not concerned about the rising air pollution in our cities particularly Pm10s? Does the Minister accept that people are dying in our cities because of air pollution? Does he accept the WHO findings that more people are dying from car emissions than from car accidents? What is he doing about it?
As regards the Kyoto commitments, the Minister said "shortly" but I note in his press release on the publication of this document that he said "shortly" again and that was in April. When will he bring the national greenhouse abatement strategy to Cabinet and when will he publish it? Does the Minister accept that we have no chance of complying with the Kyoto commitments and is that not another source of shame for him and another indictment—
I remind the Deputy that questions are limited to one minute and so are replies.
From what I have heard him say in this House, the Deputy has a wonderfully one-sided view of everything in life. He should look at the record of this Government on the environment.
Depressing.
It is going down the tubes.
He should give us more support for the many advances we have made over the past two or three years. We are investing £3 billion in water services infrastructure. We are extending the successful water catchment management strategy to all waters in the State. I mentioned the phosphate regulations made in 1998.
Air pollution?
We have extended and strengthened local authority powers to make by-laws under the water pollution Acts. Air pollution monitoring is being increased around the country.
Answer the question on air pollution.
I will if the Deputy gives me an opportunity to do so. He asked a series of questions. May I have an opportunity to answer or perhaps the Deputy does not want to hear the answer?
Please answer about air pollution specifically.
Is that the only question the Deputy wants me to answer or does he want me to answer the remainder of the questions?
Deputy Gormley, please desist from interrupting.
Answer the questions on Kyoto and air pollution.
We have extended the bituminous coal ban to further towns, meeting a specific commitment we made in An Action Programme for the Millennium. We completed the phasing out of leaded petrol from January 2000, two years before we were supposed to. We introduced new standards for fuel quality in the interests of maintaining high air quality standards.
There is a one minute limit on replies to supplementary questions.
Why is the situation getting worse?
Following publication of the EPA report the Minister said energy taxes would be necessary. Has he put to Government or to the Minister for Finance any proposals for the introduction of energy taxes?
There were a number of provisions in relation to energy taxes and green taxes generally in the 1999 budget.
There were not.
A further green tax initiative was announced in the 2000 budget.
There were discussions about it.
I will read the Budget Statement and the Deputy will see it. The 2000 budget provision related to expanded use of low sulphur diesel in bus fleets.
That was not a tax. It is a duty.
We have exceeded the time. I call Question No. 7.
Does the Minister accept that more people are dying from air pollution than in road accidents?
I call Question No. 7.