Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 March 2008
238 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has to introduce a scheme whereby allowances will be made to farmers or landowners for carbon credits if they provide for additional carbon gas absorption through their farming or land activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9815/08]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no proposals to introduce such a scheme at this time.
Domestic projects to reduce emissions are addressed in Chapter 10 of the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012. As Ireland has a challenging greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for the purposes of the Kyoto Protocol, the economic effectiveness of any such project or scheme that issues carbon credits requires careful consideration. The key issues, which are set out in Chapter 10 of the Strategy, include the relevance of existing sectoral support mechanisms and whether any such project or scheme could achieve emissions reductions that are additional to reductions from existing measures.
In line with the commitment in the Strategy, the feasibility of domestic offsetting projects and schemes will be kept under review as international rules concerning such schemes evolve and in the light of experience in other countries. Having regard to all of the considerations set out in the Chapter 10 of the Strategy, I would be happy to examine any specific proposal for a project or scheme from any sector.
