Willie Penrose
Question:8 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government when he expects to publish the promised national greenhouse gas abatement strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18661/00]
Other Questions. - Greenhouse Gas Abatement Strategy.
Question:
32 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the action, if any, he will take to enforce the Kyoto Protocol in relation to greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18614/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 32 together.
Ireland's target under the Kyoto Protocol is to limit the net increase in emissions of a basket of six greenhouse gases to 13% above 1990 levels in the period 2008 to 2012.
A number of measures are currently in place to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in the transport, residential, industrial, agricultural, waste and commercial sectors. These are outlined in Ireland's second national communication under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Since the preparation of this report in July 1997, there have been a number of further policy developments which, inter alia, address climate change.
The forthcoming national greenhouse gas abatement strategy will provide the necessary framework for Ireland's response to our Kyoto obligation. Within this framework, a range of integrated and mutually reinforcing measures will be implemented over the coming decade to ensure achievement of Ireland's Kyoto target. The strategy will be subject to policies and regular review and progress will be monitored by reference to a comprehensive set of indicators.
Preparation of the strategy has included widespread consultation, following publication of a consultancy study on the limitation and reduction of COf7>2 and other greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland, undertaken on behalf of my Department and the Department of Public Enterprise. Public submissions on this study, a discussion forum I held to address the issues arising and sectoral concerns addressed to me have been utilised in its development. In addition, last year I invited Comhar, the National Sustainable Development Partnership, to consider and make recommendations on the draft strategy. Having regard to the views of Comhar and to interdepartmental input through the environmental network of Government Departments, I will shortly bring the strategy to Government for consideration. Following Government approval it will be published, and we will put all necessary measures in place to ensure implementation.
Does the Minister accept the conclusion in the EPA report that the increase in emissions which we are allowed under the Kyoto Protocol will not be 13% but will be closer to 30%?
What is the cause of the delay in presenting the national greenhouse gas abatement strategy? In reply to a parliamentary question on 25 May, the Minister told me the draft was being finalised for presentation as a matter of urgency. Has the draft been completed, when will it be presented to Government and when will we see it? The Minister has been in office for three years and greenhouse gas emissions are going beyond the very generous levels to which we committed ourselves in the Kyoto Protocol.
I do not accept the Deputy's final point that our allowance under the Kyoto Protocol was generous.
It is one of the biggest in the EU.
Most sectors affected by the protocol regard it as much too stringent. The Deputy's party spoke in terms of 20% when the then Government was involved in negotiations. I had that reduced to 13%. The target is stringent and it will be difficult to meet it.
There is no delay. Normal consultation is taking place prior to the production of the draft document. These consultations are nearing conclusion. I hope to finalise the strategy, bring it to Government in the coming weeks and publish it as quickly as possible thereafter.
Does the Minister agree there is no point in negotiating lower limits if it is obvious we cannot achieve them? The real issue is his failure and the failure of his Department and the Government to take the difficult political decisions to achieve the targets we have set ourselves. Unless we are prepared to take difficult decisions, the level of emissions allowed, whether 13% or 30%, will be irrelevant. Have the difficult political decisions been taken on this matter?
The Government is not afraid to take difficult political decisions
Only when it comes to appointments.
At times it would be nice if the Opposition was not so opportunistic when we take necessary difficult decisions. No work was done on national greenhouse gas emissions before I came to office because there was no Kyoto agreement.
The Minister has been in office for three years.
The Minister is misleading the House.
I am not misleading the House. Deputies appear to be asking questions to which they do not wish to hear answers. They simply wish to raise questions.
That is our job. The Minister is here to govern. We are here to ask hard questions.
I have no difficulty in answering questions. Scientific data had to be collected by consultants but decisions will be made by Government, not by consultants. Data are constantly being updated and on the basis of sound reliable scientific data the difficult decisions on measures to be taken in various sectors will be taken. There is no point in taking so-called difficult decisions if they are not based on scientific data. This is the basis of the draft document. As soon as it is published Deputies will see that hard decisions have been made. I look forward to the support of all Deputies for those decisions.
Why can the Minister not get to the nub of this issue? Is the delay not due to the IBEC's opposition to the introduction of a carbon tax and its support for the trading of carbon permits? Will the Minister make a statement on this matter? Will he capitulate to the IBEC and other sectoral interests who do not wish to see a carbon tax? The Minister would have my support in refusing to do that.
I thank the Deputy for that offer of support. We have an international obligation to meet these targets and I have undertaken to provide the necessary finance to meet our obligations.
The IBEC is not and will not hold the Government to ransom, nor is it seeking to do so. It was consulted, as were the agricultural community, various Departments, including the Department of Public Enterprise, the social partners and Comhar, the national environmental sustainable development partnership. Some Deputies complain about lack of consultation, yet when the Government tries to consult as widely as possible they complain about that too.
When will we have an energy tax and a car tax?
The strategy will outline the measures to be taken across a range of sectors.
Does the Minister accept that the problem of global warming and climate change is serious and urgent? Is it not shameful that the Government has taken three years to prepare a draft, which has not yet been finalised, of our greenhouse gas abatement strategy to cover the next decade? If it has taken three years to prepare the draft, how much longer will it take to make decisions and take the necessary action to bring Ireland remotely close to the targets to which we committed ourselves in Kyoto?
If that were the case, it would be shameful. The Deputy confuses the lack of a draft strategy with a lack of action. A range of measures have been taken and policies adopted.
That is nonsense.
I will read the list if Deputies wish to have the information: intensified energy efficiency and conservation programmes led by the Irish Energy Centre; the establishment of the Energy Advisory Board;—
More advisory boards, more consultants.
—the implementation of the EU SAVE programme; demand side management by the ESB; significant alternative and renewable energy programmes – AER 1,2 and 3; promotion of combined heat and power; improved efficiency in electricity generation; the Operational Programme for Transport 1994-99; and the implementation of DTI.
That is all hot air.
Since Kyoto we have introduced new revised technical guidance documents which accompany the building regulations to reduce energy in space heating. The waste strategy was launched in October 1998. Wind farm development and other forms of renewable energy are continuing apace and a number of new facilities have been opened.
In the transport sector investment in public transport and the reduction of congestion, including Luas, will help control the increase in emissions from cars.
On a point of order, Sir, one minute replies do not give the Government an opportunity to outline in full its record in the House. Something will have to be done about this.
It would only take the Minister 15 seconds to do that.