Communications Climate Action & Environment Committee to focus on 2020 energy efficiency targets

The schedule for the meeting is:

(i) Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals: Schedule A: COM(2017)698,  COM(2017)769  Schedule B: COM(2017)54.
(ii) Meeting Ireland’s targets under the 2020 Climate & Energy Package [Officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and representatives from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU); EirGrid plc; Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA); North West PV and Smart Renewable Energy Ltd; The Irish Wind Energy Association; Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.]

Committee Chair Hildegarde Naughton said: “Ireland has a number of energy and emissions targets for 2020. Ireland, along with Denmark and Luxembourg, has the most challenging target for greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the EU – our target is to achieve 20% lower than the 2005 greenhouse gas emissions levels by 2020. While significant progress has been made in recent years, there is still a risk that we will not meet our targets. Tomorrow we will meet with a number of State agencies and stakeholder organisations to examine the current situation regarding our targets and consider the measures that may have to be implemented to accelerate efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiency and promote the use of renewable energy.”

This meeting will start at 5pm, tomorrow, Tuesday, 16 January 2018 in Committee Room 2, Leinster House. Before the Committee discusses meeting Ireland’s targets under the 2020 Climate and Energy Package, it will carry out scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals:

Schedule A:

COM(2017)698  Proposal for a Council regulation on the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2019-2020) complementing the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

COM(2017)769  Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council repealing Regulation (EU) No 256/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the notification to the Commission of investment projects in energy infrastructure within the European Union.

Schedule B:

COM(2017)54 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC to continue current limitations of scope for aviation activities and to prepare to implement a global market-based measure from 2021

Committee proceedings can be viewed live here.

On Wednesday, the Committee will carry out detailed Scrutiny of the Waste Reduction Bill 2017 [PMB]  with officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, representatives from The Environmental Protection Agency; Irish Business and Employers Confederation; Food Drink Ireland; Retail Ireland; Voice Ireland; Eunomia; RGDATA; and Repak Ltd.

Deputy Naughton said: “The purpose of the Bill is to provide for a ban on single-use non-compostable cups and other tableware and for the introduction of deposit and return schemes for beverage containers. Tomorrow, we will examine the Bill in greater detail and get the perspectives of officials from the Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as a number of stakeholder groups.”

This meeting will take place at 1.30pm on Wednesday, 17 January 2018 in Committee Room 3. Committee proceedings can be viewed live here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.