I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 102 together.
Compliance with our 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target is a serious challenge but Ireland will comply; compliance is not an option, it is binding under EU law. While the priority is to secure compliance based on actual greenhouse gas emission reductions, in the event that adequate mitigation measures cannot be mobilised in the time available, EU law (Decision No 406/2009/EC) provides flexibilities to enable Member States to ensure compliance through, for example, intra Member State trading.
The emission reduction challenge, as outlined by the Environmental Protection Agency, is well understood by Government, as reflected in the National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development and the General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill which I published in April of this year. The National Policy Position provides a high-level policy direction for the adoption and implementation by Government of plans to en able the State to move to a low-carbon economy. Proposed statutory authority for the plans is set out in the General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill.
In anticipation of the planned legislation, work is already under way on developing a National Low-Carbon Roadmap to 2050, the primary objective of which will be to set out additional measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and progress the overall national low-carbon transition agenda.
The issue of fines does not arise. In the event that it proves impossible to mobilise or resource adequate mitigation measures in the time available to ensure compliance with Ireland’s 2020 target, the flexibilities available to Member States under EU law may have to be used. At this stage, it is far too early to say or attempt to estimate the potential cost of making up any gap in the distance to the 2020 target through use of the flexibility provisions.
