Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 4

Written Answers. - Environmental Policy.

John Gormley

Ceist:

263 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will attend the global conference on climate change in Buenos Aires in November 1998; the steps, if any, his Department will take to facilitate Irish NGO representation at the conference; and the position the Government will be taking at the conference in relation to the question of the creation of an international emissions, pollution quota, trading scheme as is being promoted by the London based International Petroleum Exchange with support from the Government of the United States. [20001/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I will attend the fourth conference of the parties to the climate change convention in Buenos Aires from 11 to 14 November.

I have not received any requests from Irish NGOs to facilitate their representation at the conference. In the event of such a request being made, I will give it due consideration.

International emissions trading is provided for in Article 17 of the Kyoto Protocol, and the definition of the relevant principles, modalities, rules and guidelines for trading will be addressed at the conference in Buenos Aires. The EU position on emissions trading, to which the Government subscribes, is contained in the conclusions adopted by the EU Council of Environment Ministers in March and October 1998. Copies of these conclusions are being supplied to the Deputy.