Róisín Shortall
Ceist:234 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the steps he is taking to fulfil EU regulations on the 2010 emission targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5867/03]
Written Answers - EU Regulations.
I assume the question refers to non-greenhouse gas transboundary air pollutants.
Ireland is required to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ammonia (NH3) to achieve the targets in Directive 2001/81/EC on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants and in the Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-Level Ozone. Already many measures have been put in place to reduce such emissions. For example, a negotiated agreement was signed last year with the Solid Fuel Trade Group to reduce SO2 emissions from coal and petcoke and there is a requirement under 2001 regulations prohibiting the use from 1 January 2003 of heavy fuel oil with a sulphur content greater than 1% by mass.
The reduced excise duty in budget 2002 on low sulphur diesel has resulted in an industry wide move to this cleaner fuel and the implementation of the Auto Oil Programme Directives on fuel quality and vehicle emission standards is reducing vehicle emissions of SO2, NOx and VOCs. Emissions of SO2 and NOx from existing as well as new power plants are now regulated by the EPA under the integrated pollution control licensing system. In November 2002 I made regulations to reduce VOC emissions from the use of organic solvents in certain activities and installations. There are also synergies in achieving reductions in all transboundary pollutants with many of the measures planned and being implemented under the National Climate Change Strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A discussion paper will be published shortly identifying and quantifying the potential for further emissions reductions of transboundary acidifying gases, and the measures necessary to achieve these. The purpose of the paper is to provide better cross-sectoral understanding of the scale of emissions reductions required by 2010, to seek sectoral perspectives on reduction options and information to further develop the robustness of emissions inventories and projections, and to serve as a basis for discussion between and within sectors on the most economically efficient means to achieve the national targets. Following this public consultation and in the light of inputs from sectoral and other interests I will bring a draft strategy to Government for approval.