Vol. 495 No. 1
59 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps, if any, taken by the Government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions since the Kyoto conference; when his consultation process will be concluded; and when he will be in a position to outline the specific measures which will achieve an emissions target of 113 per cent of 1990 levels by 2012. [19274/98]
301 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the ways in which Ireland will implement the Kyoto agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19306/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 301 together.
Ireland's target under the Kyoto Protocol is to limit the increase in emissions of greenhouse gases to 13 per cent above 1990 levels in the period 2008-12. A number of measures are currently in place to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in the energy, transport, residential, industrial, agricultural, waste and commercial sectors. These are outlined in detail in Ireland's Second
National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Since the preparation of this report in July 1997, there have been a number of further policy developments which, inter alia, address climate change.
As part of the development of a National Strategy to meet our Kyoto commitment, a consultancy study on the "Limitation and Reduction of CO 2 and other Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Ireland" was published in June 1998, and submissions were invited from interested bodies, individuals and organisations. Copies of the Second National Communication and the consultancy study are available in the Oireachtas Library.
My Department and the Department of Public Enterprise will hold consultative forum on 28 October 1998 for those who have made submissions on the consultancy study. Following this, I will complete the preparation of the national strategy, for Government approval; this will put in place a framework for achieving our Kyoto commitment, building upon existing measures and developing additional policies and measures for implementation in all sectors.
