Adjournment Debate.

Climate Change.

Ms F. O’Malley

The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, published yesterday, marks a significant milestone in global co-operation. The report should be compulsory reading for every Government in the world. The threat of climate change is global and the response must be on a global scale. The comprehensive research conducted by Mr. Nicholas Stern is of such international significance and application that it is important we in Ireland take the opportunity to discuss it and I welcome that opportunity tonight.

Economics do not change with international boundaries. We have much to be thankful to the British for and we do not need to conduct our own research into the phenomenon now. This report provides the evidence, as if we need it, of the economic cost of global climate change. It is important that we respond to and act upon the findings of the review. It is comforting to note what the author said yesterday:

The conclusion of the review is essentially optimistic. There is still time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, if we act now and act internationally. Governments, businesses and individuals all need to work together to respond to the challenge. Strong, deliberate policy choices by governments are essential to motivate change.

But the task is urgent. Delaying action, even by a decade or two, will take us into dangerous territory. We must not let this window of opportunity close.

It is not too late. That is the message, essentially, but we must act now.

Our Kyoto obligations are indeed onerous. That our economic growth took place between the benchmark year of 1990 and the present accentuates the challenge before us. However, this fact does not absolve us, particularly those of us in government, of the responsibility to implement policies which will permit us to respond positively to the task before us. The cost of doing nothing is prohibitive. Risk modelling forecasts a minimum cost of 5% of global GDP, rising to a possible 20%. In contrast, Mr. Stern predicts that the cost of taking action to reduce the worst effects of climate change could be limited to 1% of global GDP.

Tackling climate change will have consequences for our lifestyles. Should we continue to be able to take flights with impunity? The review suggests that the carbon costs of our actions should be transparent to increase our awareness of the problem and I would welcome that move. Developing new, cleaner and more efficient technologies offers enormous opportunities for Ireland. As has been stated on numerous occasions, we are ideally located to develop wind energy in particular. We could realise my own personal ambition of making Ireland the research capital for renewable technologies. We must have that ambitious target.

We must take action to stimulate energy efficiency. We must inform and educate people about the cost of their lifestyles so they can respond to the challenge. Last year, when measures were taken in the budget in this area, people could not get enough. People will respond to measures to create efficiencies, particularly those that will make their homes more energy efficient. I hope the forthcoming budget will go a step further to meet the appetite that is clearly there among people. We must realise that people want to change. If we inform and educate them about the cost of climate change, they will want to take mitigating measures themselves.

Tackling climate change is a pro-growth strategy. Ignoring it will ultimately undermine economic growth.

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Mr. B. O’Keeffe)

I thank Deputy O'Malley for raising an appropriate, pertinent and opportune issue and, as always, for making an incisive contribution to the discussion. I am glad to have an opportunity to respond to the Stern report.

The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change published by the British Government this week puts the global warming debate centre stage in economic terms and reminds all countries that the costs of inaction far outweigh the cost of tackling climate change now.

The review stresses that global climate change is an international problem and that the actions required to tackle the issue effectively must be multilateral. Any one country is only part of the problem. However, a sustained and effective collective response is necessary from all countries to avoid the worst effects of climate change in the future.

The review suggests that three elements of policy are required for an effective response. The first is carbon pricing, through taxation, emissions trading or regulation, so that people are faced with the full social costs of their actions. The aim should be to build a common global carbon price across countries and sectors. The second is technology policy, to drive the development and deployment at scale of a range of low-carbon and high-efficiency products. The third element is action to remove barriers to energy efficiency and to inform, educate and persuade individuals about what they can do to respond to climate change. A shared understanding of the nature of climate change and its consequences is critical in shaping behaviour, as well as in underpinning both national and international action.

Within the EU, Ireland is performing well in terms of greenhouse gas emissions relative to other member states and our position is by no means the worst in the EU. Ireland ranks mid-table with seven of the EU 15 further away from their Kyoto Protocol targets than us. Per capita emissions, while high, are not much higher than in many EU countries. Ireland’s per capita carbon dioxide emissions were approximately 11 tonnes in 2004 compared to an EU 15 average of nine tonnes. Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Luxembourg had higher per capita CO2 emissions than Ireland. Most importantly, Ireland has achieved a decoupling of its emissions from economic growth, so that while our emissions grew by 23% since 1990, our economy grew by almost 150%.

The challenge of global climate change is a critical element of the global and EU energy landscape, along with the backdrop of high energy demand and volatile oil and gas prices. The energy policies we adopt for the future must play a substantial role in Ireland's response to this issue. The principal policy options set out in the recent Green Paper on energy are designed to deliver a more sustainable energy future for Ireland. These are well aligned with the review of the national climate change strategy, Ireland's Pathway to Kyoto Compliance, published by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Roche. As part of an overall strategy for the energy sector, these principles stress the importance of increasing our use of renewable energy as the key to sustainability and future security of supply. We must also tackle energy demand itself through systematic energy efficiency strategies.

The energy Green Paper envisages an ambitious target of 30% of electricity produced by renewable energy by 2020. There are differing views on whether such a target is too much or too little, but it is proposed as a realistic ambition and one for which a solid foundation has been laid with the recently announced REFIT programme.

The Government intends that by 2020 the best commercial ocean energy technology should be Irish. Our ocean energy strategy is aimed to position us at the cutting edge of development.

Bio-fuels and biomass will play a major role by 2020, underpinned by the new bio-energy strategy that is led by the ministerial task force.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Minister of State should conclude.

Mr. B. O’Keeffe

Through greater energy efficiency, individuals and businesses have the power to contribute to the 2020 vision. This will mean a change in behaviour and attitudes to achieve the target set out in the Green Paper of a 20% reduction in energy demand by 2020. The recently launched national energy efficiency campaign, The Power of One, is aimed at encouraging such behavioural change. The agenda will include setting higher standards, regulating for change and, where necessary, incentivising change. The campaign will also target individual sectors and for example, the public sector must set the pace.

Consular Services.

Mr. Costello

I wish to share time with Deputy Gregory.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Mr. Costello

My motion concerns the need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to state what measures have been taken to determine the circumstances regarding the disappearance of an Irish citizen. As the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Conor Lenihan, is aware, it is extremely alarming that an Irish woman should disappear without trace in Medjugorje. Ms Winnie Brady travelled to Medjugorje at the beginning of September with a group of Irish people on a religious pilgrimage. As it was not her first time there, she had a reasonable knowledge of the area. Although her disappearance was reported to the police on 6 September, she may have been missing from either 4 or 5 September, as she had not been seen on those days. Hence, there was a potentially serious delay of a full 48 hours in reporting her disappearance that could have been the critical period for the beginning of a police inquiry. It also transpires that none of the Irish people who accompanied her was questioned by the local police. Moreover, the fact that Winnie Brady, who was a heavy smoker, left her accommodation without her cigarettes suggests she did not intend to go far. Furthermore, it transpires that approximately eight people have gone missing in Medjugorje over the years, some of whom were Irish, and have disappeared without trace.

Tom Daly, a policeman with the European monitoring mission, has been helpful to the family. The mission is in regular contact with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs who have kept family members informed of developments. Despite this however, the family is extremely frustrated. Nearly two months have now passed and family members fear the worst for their loved one. They even fear there may be a serial killer operating in the area. They are most unhappy with the response from the local authorities and police. Most of all, they want to know what happened to Winnie. They want closure, even if it means bad news.

They wish to see intervention on the part of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. They ask whether it is possible for the Irish troops stationed in Kosovo to perform a thorough search of the area. I believe approximately 150 troops are stationed there in addition to a Garda unit. They also ask whether the Garda in Ireland can question the Irish pilgrims who accompanied Winnie Brady on her pilgrimage as the local police in Medjugorje never bothered to speak to any of them to pick up any possible evidence, information or clues. The family members want to pursue all avenues until they find out what happened to her. After two months, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is probably their last hope and should help them.

Mr. Gregory

I thank Deputy Costello for sharing time. The sisters of Winnie Brady also spoke to me and are absolutely distraught eight weeks after the disappearance and loss of their sister. This is an appalling nightmare for them. I ask either of the Ministers of State present in the Chamber, Deputies Conor Lenihan and Michael Ahern, to meet the sisters and other relatives of Winnie Brady to listen to their concerns at first hand. The Ministers of State would be moved by how the relatives feel.

They strongly believe the search in Medjugorje has been inadequate thus far and that more must be done. They are fearful of a local cover-up designed to prevent a negative impact on tourism in that area. As the Minister of State is aware, many thousands of Irish tourists travel to the region. I join the call that the Army and Garda personnel already stationed in Bosnia might work with the local authorities to carry out a thorough search. The relatives of Winnie strongly believe the search thus far has simply been inadequate and has not extended to the requisite areas.

As Deputy Costello noted, there have also been rumours of other disappearances and of the presence of a serial killer in the area. In his contacts with the local authorities in Medjugorje and Bosnia, has the Minister for Foreign Affairs established whether this is the case? If so, it chimes with the views of some of the relatives that there may have been a local cover-up because of the consequential negative impact on tourism.

Above all, the sisters and relatives do not want this matter to be swept under the carpet. They will not allow it to go away and intend to campaign until Winnie is found and the truth is established. As local representatives, Deputy Costello and I insist that everything possible should be done to help the relatives in their search. They require greater action, greater openness from the authorities here, to assure them the search is not over and that——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

The Deputy should conclude.

Mr. Gregory

——whatever action must be taken will continue to be taken until this matter is resolved by establishing the truth of what happened and by bringing Winnie home.

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Mr. C. Lenihan)

Like both Deputies, I can only imagine the terrible nightmare being experienced by the family. I assure both Deputies that everything possible will be done by my Department and any other relevant Department to seek an answer to the questions posed by the family. At the outset, I wish to express my solidarity with the plight in which the family of the person mentioned by Deputy Costello find themselves. As all Members will appreciate, this is a difficult and trying time for the family concerned, made all the more difficult by the fact that their loved one has gone missing far away from home.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the embassy in Slovenia, which is also accredited to Bosnia-Herzegovina, has provided active consular assistance and support to the family of the person in question. In this regard, the embassy in Slovenia has been in ongoing contact with the relevant authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, including the local police force, rescue services, politicians and senior officials in the region in which the town of Medjugorje is situated.

A diplomatic officer of the embassy travelled to the region to liaise with local police, relevant agencies and with officials involved in the search. During the visit, the officer also had many meetings with members of the missing person's family. Subsequently, the Irish ambassador travelled to Medjugorje and to the regional capital, Mostar, to review the search arrangements.

Since the person's disappearance, there have been six largescale searches, some of which involved the use of a helicopter provided by the officer commanding the European Union police mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In addition to these largescale searches, there have been more localised searches. Searching continues and an officer from the Irish Embassy will again shortly visit Medjugorje to review the situation. Members of the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces on EU service in Bosnia-Herzegovina have also participated actively and helpfully in the searches for the missing person.

I assure the Deputies that since the person's disappearance, the consular division of the Department of Foreign Affairs has provided all possible consular assistance and support to her family. In this regard, the husband of the missing person has expressed warm appreciation for all the assistance he has received from the Department and from the Irish Embassy in Slovenia. I can also confirm that senior officials of the consular division recently met with other family members of the person.

I assure the Deputies that the Department will continue to provide all possible consular assistance and support, including, as indicated above, a third visit at an early date by an officer of the embassy to Medjugorje to review the search operation. I will personally convey the specific request made in the context of this debate to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, with a view to setting up a meeting with all relevant individuals.

Community Employment Schemes.

Mr. G. Mitchell

At a recent occupational health and safety summit, the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for labour affairs, Deputy Killeen, made a number of points. Among them were that Ireland's workforce is set to experience rapid ageing from 2025 onwards and that increased rates of life expectancy for both men and women pose significant challenges for the work environment. He argued that early or mandatory retirement also presents significant challenges for our future labour market. He pointed out that in 2004 the Central Statistics Office projected that the population aged 65 years and over would increase by 538,000 from 2006 to 2031, an increase of 116%, with no corresponding increase in the younger working age population.

The Minister of State argued that the cost of funding age-related payments in 2005 was in the order of €3 billion. He argued that while this ageing was not taking place as quickly as in some of our European partners, there was no doubt that this would become a significant issue for Ireland in the longer term and that the NCB in 2006 predicted that by 2050 there would be less than two persons of working age per person over 65. He argued that the cultural mindset change that is required by both employers and employees to encourage older workers to remain in the labour market is one which the national strategy on health and well-being at work would endeavour to encourage through promotion, prevention and rehabilitation and so enable them to avail of the education and employment opportunities as envisaged in the agreement. He argued that, consequently, unlike our European partners, we have time and opportunity to address this through the strategy, which is designed to maintain and, where necessary, improve the work ability of the older workforce so they can work healthily to full retirement age and beyond full retirement age if they wish and retire healthily.

This is what the Minister of State stated at this summit. Interestingly, the European country in which men can expect the longest period of illness-free life after the age of 65 is Cyprus, which has an average of 12.6 years. Cyprus is also the EU member state with one of the highest proportions of people aged between 65 and 69 in employment — 20% against an EU average of 8%. I raise this issue in the context of a case involving a constituent who has worked for a FÁS scheme for the last six years, the last three of which he has worked as a supervisor under a jobs initiative in a parish hall. This scheme is administered by a partnership board. The man took retirement in 1994 as a result of an occupational accident and now takes home €296 out of €320 gross. He signed a contract in June 2006 to continue for the year and has now been informed that he must retire the day before he turns 66. He will be 66 years of age on 31 December 2006.

This man carries out an important function locally which is badly needed. As I understand it and bearing in mind the comments made by the Minister of State which I have just cited, Government policy is to encourage those who reach the age of 66 to continue to be available for work if they so choose. This is for a variety of reasons, including the issue of longevity to which I referred. When is Government policy likely to become consistent with its stated aims? For the sake of consistency of policy and, particularly in this case for the sake of the community, I ask the Minister to direct FÁS to change its policy so FÁS supervisors and workers can be retained after the age of 66 where they wish to continue and where the community wishes to retain them. FÁS tells me this is a matter of policy and policy is made by the Government and the Dáil. I ask the Minister to review and change this policy. This man will be not be 66 for another two months and wishes to continue serving his community, which needs him. He is not being paid a fortune but he is engaged in a very worthwhile job and is very badly needed. I ask the Minister to change the policy and allow him to continue working.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. M. Ahern)

It is welcome to see Deputy Gay Mitchell back in the House. He has not lost any of his energy. I am delivering this reply on behalf of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Martin, who has responsibility for community employment, CE, schemes. CE schemes are active labour market programmes designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary basis.

CE as an active labour market programme has the emphasis on progression into employment. This programme, with its focus on the needs of disadvantaged persons, forms a major response by FÁS to tackling the social exclusion of such groups as persons with disabilities, lone parents, long-term unemployed people and drug abusers, with a view to their reintegration into the labour market.

Changes have been made to CE so that it responds to the needs of disadvantaged people. CE health sector places have been ring-fenced from any reductions that have taken place since March 2002 and FÁS makes every effort to ensure places are maintained at the agreed level on ring-fenced schemes. In addition, projects in RAPID areas are given priority. However, it is important to remember that the primary purpose of CE is to provide short-term work experience and training opportunities for long-term unemployed persons and other disadvantaged groups with a view to facilitating their progression to work in the open labour market. It is imperative, therefore, that CE positions be vacated on a rolling basis to facilitate new participants.

To cater for older workers in particular, in November 2004 the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment raised the three-year participation limit to allow those aged 55 years and over to avail of a six-year period on CE schemes based on participation since 3 April 2000. This was done in recognition of the fact that older participants may find it more difficult to progress into the open labour market.

In July of this year, my Department published its sectoral plan under the Disability Act 2005. One of the key highlights of this plan is to increase participation rates of people with disabilities on CE over the period of the plan and to raise the CE participation limits for people with disabilities to provide additional training to assist progression to employment. In the case of people with disabilities under 55 years of age, the participation limit was raised by one year from three to four years, while for people with disabilities over 55 years of age, the participation limit was also raised by one year from six to seven years.

A new individual learner plan is also currently being rolled out nationally in FÁS which is designed to track and record an individual's progress from programme entry to exit. Beginning with the identification of learning needs at induction, through to project and progression skills development, this new approach addresses the personal, social, vocational and specific work-related skills needs of each participant.

Mr. G. Mitchell

Will the Minister review this case?

Mr. M. Ahern

Funding for CE in 2006 has been provided with a view to maintaining overall numbers on FÁS schemes at 2005 levels. Currently, over 22,000 people are employed on CE schemes nationally, a figure which has been maintained throughout 2006. FÁS is hopeful it will fill its full allocation in 2006. In delivering these places, FÁS operates flexibility in the management of this allocation in order to maximise progression to the labour market while at the same time facilitating the support of community services. This provision of places is managed through a standardised application process between regional FÁS offices and local sponsor-community organisations and any issues regarding the allocation of places are dealt with in this context. FÁS makes every effort to ensure differing levels of demand between neighbouring schemes are equalised.

CE still aims to remain an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment. The programme is managed within this context, with consideration given to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community. However, I will raise the case highlighted by Deputy Gay Mitchell with the Minister and ask him to review the situation pertaining to the individual in question.

Mr. G. Mitchell

I thank the Minister of State.

Railway Stations.

Ms C. Murphy

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this matter. There are six train stations in my constituency. Kildare North would generally be regarded as being in the heart of the commuter belt and transport-related matters are a key issue because of the level of congestion both locally and to and from Dublin city centre and other parts of the city. Part of the focus of Transport 21 is an attempt to shift people away from a high dependence on the private car and towards the use of public transport. It is not just a question of providing additional trains, buses, stations and a wider variety of radial and orbital routes, it is about considering how commuters get from their hall doors to their destinations. I can say with certainty that there is total chaos every day of the week at the stations in my constituency. I expect the same is true of most other suburban stations. Not only are cars parked at the stations but they are also in neighbouring housing estates, along footpaths and streets.

It is difficult to conclude that there is anything other than a willingness by the public to use public transport but much more attention needs to be paid to ancillary services around public transport corridors. For example, a greater use of feeder buses is one option that could be considered. While the likelihood of such services making money is remote, if one balances the cost of congestion against the subsidy that would be paid there is a strong argument in favour of such services. The same can be said about the provision of decent well lit footpaths and cycleways.

As the capacity of public transport services increases, the absence of provision of such services around public transport corridors will get worse. Irish Rail is now actively considering charging for parking at train stations. I have heard a tariff of €4 per day mooted. When one considers that a day return ticket can cost €3.60, this would more than double the daily travel cost for some commuters, thus making public transport a most unattractive option. I am well aware that it can be expensive to provide and maintain car parking facilities to a high standard but if one empties the car parks, most cars will converge onto the N4, the N7, the M50 etc. When one considers the issues of inefficiency, congestion both in terms of the cost to individuals and the economy, carbon emissions and the cost of carbon trading and increased accident rates, it is a small cost in the overall context of the provision of public transport.

Maynooth station car park is full before 8 a.m. Many commuters drive from Enfield to Maynooth to get the train. Neighbouring housing estates are filled with commuters' cars and all the on-street parking spaces in the village are taken up, thus leaving no space for shoppers. This puts pressure on the local authority for the provision of off-street parking, which is expensive.

Hazelhatch station, which serves Celbridge, is a mile from the town centre so there is no question of people walking to it. Cars park on the path and cycleway for up to 100 yd. beyond the train station which has a fairly big car park. Sallins station, which serves Naas, is also a distance from the town. I am trying to paint a picture for the Minister of State, Deputy Gallagher, of what conditions are like at those three stations.

It is intended to charge for parking at the new car park provided at Leixlip Louisa Bridge station. This will make it unattractive for commuters. When cars are parked in neighbouring housing estates it makes it difficult for bins to be collected, people cannot get deliveries and there is a problem with access for emergency vehicles. There is a need to address this serious problem in the overall context of the provision of additional public transport. People are willing to use public transport but it must be considered how people get from their homes to their destinations. I can well understand imposing charges for parking in the city centre as a disincentive to the use of cars but I cannot understand why it would be considered on the outskirts. I believe it will be counterproductive.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Mr. Gallagher)

I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to respond. The provision of facilities at train stations to enhance physical access to services and increase usage is integral to investments already made in the rail network under the national development plan and planned or under way under Transport 21.

Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, substantial Exchequer funding has been provided for improvements at stations throughout the network. Such improvements include upgrade works on stations and access to stations, platforms, lighting, signage, car parks, etc. In addition, Iarnród Éireann seeks to facilitate and develop feeder bus services to maximise use of train services. For example, feeder bus services are operated jointly with Dublin Bus at Sutton, Blackrock, Dún Laoghaire and Connolly Station, for Heuston Station. Where new stations are being built, for example as part of the Cork commuter services project and the Kildare route project, a high standard of customer facilities is specified in the design, including for extensive car parking facilities and for pedestrian and cyclist access.

Access and services are further enhanced through the requirement that all investments in both new and existing facilities comply with the Department's sectoral plan under the Disability Act 2005. This plan establishes a framework for a high standard for access generally to public transport services, and was developed in consultation with disability and other user groups.

Park and ride facilities are an important component in encouraging people to transfer from private cars and onto public transport. I have therefore made funding available under Transport 21 for the capital costs of developing park and ride facilities. Iarnród Éireann has park and ride facilities at the majority of the 134 railway stations throughout its network. These vary from small on-street facilities to large pay facilities at major stations.

In the greater Dublin area, GDA, Iarnród Éireann has over 30 car parks, each with more than 20 car spaces. The largest of these are at Greystones, Coolmine, Kildare and Newbridge. In addition, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council operates a pay car park at Salthill station. Both Connolly and Heuston Stations have dedicated pay car parks for intercity service users. There is a pay parking facility at Cork station and Galway station has a limited number of spaces for public use. There is also car parking at Waterford. Iarnród Éireann plans to expand the parking facilities at Cork and Galway stations.

Iarnród Éireann has been extending car parking facilities at all locations where it has land available. In recent years this has included Portmarnock, Newbridge, Killester, Clontarf Road and Skerries. Iarnród Éireann is currently undertaking car parking extensions at Mallow, Ennis, and Leixlip Louisa Bridge.

My Department is also funding, as part of Transport 21, a study by Irish Rail into the prioritisation of car park initiatives across the rail network, with a view to developing a strategic, programmed approach to the provision of car park facilities in the future. In the meantime, all new station developments on commuter networks in the GDA and the rest of the country are designed to include car park facilities.

The issue of pay parking at train stations is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance having regard to the costs and revenues involved, traffic management requirements and the need to ensure the viability of rail routes.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.10 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 2 November 2006.

Dáil Éireann debate - Wednesday, 1 Nov 2006