I refer to the reply to Question No. 542 of 4 October 2005. The role of public procurement policies in assisting climate change policies and increases has been addressed by the European Commission in a 2003 study under the Commission's environment and sustainable development research programme entitled Environmental Relief Potential Of Urban Action On Avoidance And Detoxification Of Waste Streams Through Green Public Procurement. The study assessed the potential environmental benefits of widespread adoption of green procurement across the EU and concluded that significant reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide could be achieved through greater use of green electricity by public authorities, conversion to buildings of high environmental quality, and use of more energy-efficient computers and other electronic equipment.
The potential for public procurement policies to contribute to meeting Ireland's commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, having regard to Ireland's obligations under the EU public procurement directives, is being explored in the context of the ongoing review of the national climate change strategy