Vol. 564 No. 5
411 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether the stated climate change strategy approved by the Government, and the commitments it has made to the Kyoto Protocol, mandate this Government to adjust its tax strategy and to achieve the reduction in the use of fossil fuels and the development of alternative secure fuel supplies within the State. [9579/03]
The Government's national climate change strategy, published in November 2000, sets a ten year policy framework for achieving the necessary greenhouse gas reductions towards Ireland's compliance with the Kyoto Protocol. Implementation of the strategy must be intensified and I have initiated a review which I expect to finalise by the middle of the year. I am satisfied that full implementation of the strategy over the remainder of the decade, together with any additional measures which may be identified in the review, will ensure that our Kyoto obligations are met by the 2008-12 period.
Chapter 3 of the strategy deals with Government policy in regard to the use of cross-sectoral instruments, including taxation of greenhouse gas emissions which was to be addressed subject to a number of important considerations regarding the design of such taxation. The Minister for Finance announced in the budget that the Government had asked the relevant Departments to advance the plans for a general carbon energy tax, with a view to introducing this from the end of 2004. Given the many implications of such a tax, both environmental and economic, he indicated that there would be full consultations with interested parties on the design of the tax and a reasonable period is being allowed for its effective introduction.
Chapter 4 of the strategy deals with the energy supply sector and the policies and measures being put in place to reduce emissions in this sector, including in the contexts of security of energy supply and the development of alternative energy sources. The design and implementation of specific policies in this area is a matter for the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
A copy of the national climate change strategy and the progress report on its implementation published in May 2002 are available in the Oireachtas Library.
