Vol. 573 No. 3
701 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if the Government can assure the European Investment Bank that new infrastructural projects here that consume or encourage significant increases in the use of fossil fuels will comply with Ireland's commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. [25441/03]
The Government's national climate change strategy, published in November 2000, comprises a systematic programme for achieving the necessary greenhouse gas emissions reductions to ensure that Ireland complies with the Kyoto Protocol by the 2008-12 period, while continuing to support economic growth and to prepare Ireland for the more ambitious commitments that will be required after this period.
The strategy identifies a range of measures, balanced across all sectors and including cross-sectoral measures to achieve the necessary reductions equitably, and with economic and environmental efficiency. In this regard, all Departments, including my own, have responsibility for integrating the strategy objectives into relevant business and therefore ensuring full account is taken of any likely negative impacts on greenhouse gas emission levels. New infrastructural projects that may be funded through the European Investment Bank fall to be dealt with in this manner.
Meeting our target is an important Government commitment, and I initiated a review of the strategy to ensure more focused and intensive implementation. I intend to publish the outcome of this review by the end of the year. I am satisfied that full implementation over the remainder of the decade, together with any additional measures which may be identified in the review, will ensure that our Kyoto obligations are fully met, and allow us to position ourselves for future international climate policy negotiations.
