Vol. 432 No. 7
13 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Environment the steps, if any, he has taken to implement the recommendation of the Green 2000 report that research and other measures should be adopted to assist in controlling greenhouse gas emissions and those giving rise to acid rain; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The National Co 2 Abatement Strategy, which I have recently published and placed in the Oireachtas Library, is directed at the principal man made emissions implicated in climate change. It includes a range of measures in the areas of energy conservation, fuel switching, transport, waste management and afforestation designed to limit the levels of carbon in the atmosphere and to improve the energy efficiency of the Irish economy. The strategy also embodies significant research measures in the areas of energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy, afforestation and coastal erosion.
As regard acid rain emissions, the Environmental Research Unit and the Meterological Office monitor and report on Irish emissions and deposition for the purposes of the relevant monitoring programme of the Geneva Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution. In addition, the ERU carries out ongoing research and monitoring on the impacts of acidification, such as is reported in its publication Acid Sensitive Waters (1991) and Water Quality in Ireland (1992).
Air pollution policy in Ireland is generally based on strict control of sulphur and nitrogen dioxide emissions in line with relevant EC and other international requirements. Ireland has also recently signified its support for the principle of a Community carbon-energy tax provided certain specific national concerns can be met.
I refer the Minister to the Green 2000 report which seems to be long on aspirations but, unfortunately, short on anything else. That report recommends that further research should be carried out and measures taken to limit emissions and develop environmentally sound alternatives but there is no evidence of any action in this regard.
The Green 2000 report is not the gospel; those who compiled it could only agree on the final recommendations. As the Deputy is aware, there was disagreement on many other issues. We have accepted 14 out of a total of 137 recommendations in the report even though it is of recent origin. The Deputy asked what are we doing.
Measures are being taken by the ESB to limit growth in demand, and energy conservation is being promoted through education and awareness programmes. There are also the research initiatives such as SAVE for energy efficiency. ALTENER for renewable energy, THERMIE for clean technology and JOPULE which is carried out in universities. While I accept that we need to do more, there has been a considerable level of investment on the research side, for example, approximately £220 million has been invested in afforestation and other measures designed to limit the level of CO 3 in the atmosphere. The variety of measures have to be consistently reinforced and new financial provisions made. Eolas, the universities and the other research facilities will work together to the greatest extent possible in bringing about a better approach to this matter. I will be very glad to support such endeavours. It should be acknowledged that good solid steps have already been taken in this area.
That concludes questions for today.
