I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 149 together.
I refer to the replies to Question No. 81 of 17 June 2014 and Questions No. 347 and 388 of 24 June 2014.
The General Scheme of the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Bill has been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and the Bill will be published as soon as drafting has been completed. My objective is to introduce the Bill and progress its passage through the Oireachtas as quickly as possible.
Both the Heads of the Bill and the National Policy Position which the legislation will underpin were finalised, having regard to the substantial public consultation which my Department facilitated in 2012, and the second round of consultation facilitated by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht last year. A very broad range of issues was raised in both consultations and I am satisfied that the National Policy Position and the planned legislation reflect where the balance lies at this time in terms of the views across the spectrum of stakeholders and society generally. Both the National Policy Position and Head 4 of the General Scheme of the Bill address the fundamental objective on transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy in the period to 2050.
The General Scheme of the Bill is primarily focused on Ireland's domestic transition to low-carbon development. In tandem with our commitment to the developing world, a progressive approach to mitigation at a national level is the most effective contribution we can make to the global-scale actions necessary to combat climate change.
