Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 June 2017
241. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the publication deadline for the national mitigation strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29198/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of Ireland’s first National Mitigation Plan is to set out what Ireland is doing, and is planning to do, to further the national transition objective as set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, 2015. The National Mitigation Plan has been prepared having regard to the provisions set out in the 2015 Act in close collaboration with all relevant Government Departments and, in particular, with the Ministers for Transport, Tourism and Sport; Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government; and Agriculture, Food and the Marine. As well as being supported by a range of technical, economic and environmental inputs, the National Mitigation Plan has also been informed by the submissions received during a public consultation in March and April 2017.
In addition, I invited the Climate Change Advisory Council, following my publication of the draft National Mitigation Plan, to engage directly with me and with other relevant Government Ministers with a view to providing its recommendations to feed into the preparation of the final Plan. All input received from the Advisory Council has being considered in finalising the National Mitigation Plan.
In accordance with the provisions of the 2015 Act, the National Mitigation Plan was circulated to Government before 10 June, 2017. In line with the provisions of the Act, Government must approve the National Mitigation Plan or approve it with such modifications as they consider appropriate. Once such approval has been given, I am looking forward to publishing the National Mitigation Plan as soon as possible thereafter.
