Richard Bruton
Question:16 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the Government adopted new measures to secure the Kyoto targets in the context of the decision on carbon taxes. [24626/04]
View answerThursday, 4 November 2004
Questions (22)
Written answers
The National Climate Change Strategy, published in late 2000, provides a comprehensive framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the most efficient and equitable manner, and for ensuring that Ireland meets its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In announcing the decision not to proceed with the introduction of a carbon tax, the Minister for Finance reiterated the Government's commitment to its emissions target, and its intention to intensify action on the non-tax measures in the strategy to compensate for the non-introduction of the tax.
Work is currently in progress in my Department, in consultation with other relevant Departments and agencies, on a review of the national climate change strategy, taking account of all developments since its publication four years ago. A key purpose of this review will be to ensure the adequacy of existing measures and the development, where appropriate, of additional measures relevant to climate change abatement. I intend that this review will be completed by early 2005.