Environment Committee welcomes key role in climate policy roadmap

Committee Cathaoirleach Ciarán Lynch, TD said: “The roadmap which was been published by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan following a request from the Committee brings clarity to the issue of developing policy and legislation on climate change. The Committee has been very proactive in forcing the pace on this legislation.

We agree with Minister that there are no easy answers to the steep greenhouse gas emission reduction path which Ireland and other developed countries must follow in the period to 2050. However, this roadmap provides clear and detailed steps that Ireland will take over the coming years in formulating robust policy and legislation to help cut greenhouse gas emissions and achieve a low-carbon economy. It is a measurable approach which lays out in detail how the implementation of climate change legislation will be achieved. It is also an example of the reform programme where committee structures can work with Departments and Ministers to progress and deliver upon legislation.

We are particularly heartened about the key role the Committee will have in helping to develop policy and legislation in this area. In the third quarter of this year, the Committee will have an opportunity to engage on actual options for policy development when it will provide its views on the National Economic & Social Council report on national climate policy. The Committee will also consider the Heads of a climate Bill which will be issued by the end of the year and report on national climate policy development and appropriate legislation by the middle of next year.

We welcome this opportunity to work with the Minister and his department in helping to formulate policy on this very important issue. We will also be very interested in hearing from interested parties who wish to contribute to the debate on the issue of formulating climate change legislation.”

For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3903
M: 086-0496518
F: +3531 618 4551

Notes to the editor:

National Climate Policy
Programme for the development of national climate policy and legislation
2012
January  Independent analysis by NESC Secretariat, for the purpose of informing further development of national climate policy, to commence.
Early February  In parallel with the independent analysis by the NESC Secretariat, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to launch a structured, open, and inclusive consultation on national policy and legislation following on from the review issued the Minister on 3rd November 2011.
The consultation process will run up to the end of April.
End June  NESC Secretariat to submit its interim report, which will focus on potential options for policies and measures to close the distance to Ireland’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target under Decision 406/2009/EC in the compliance period 2013-2020.
Minister to make an overview analysis of the responses to the consultation available on line.
Quarter 3  Minister to release the interim report from NESC Secretariat; views to be sought from Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht.
Quarter 4  Minister to –

 a) announce the Government response to the interim report from NESC Secretariat, and

 b) issue heads of a climate Bill for consideration by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht and stakeholders, following Government approval.

End 2012  NESC Secretariat to submit its final report.

2013
February  Minister to release final report from NESC Secretariat.
March – June  Oireachtas Joint Committee to consider the NESC reports and Heads of climate bill, consulting with stakeholders as determined by the Committee.
End June  Oireachtas Joint Committee to report on national climate policy development and appropriate legislation.
Quarter 3/4  Having regard to –

 • the National Climate Policy Review,
 • the reports from the NESC Secretariat and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and
 • ongoing evolution of climate policy within EU level and at a wider-international level under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,

Government to adopt a national policy position on transition to a low-carbon future, including appropriate institutional arrangements, and finalise the introduction of climate legislation.

Committee Membership

Deputies:

Ciarán Lynch, Labour Party (Chairman)
Noel Coonan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
James Bannon, Fine Gael
Paudie Coffey, Fine Gael
Terence Flanagan, Fine Gael
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, Fine Gael
Tony McLoughlin, Fine Gael
Patrick O’Donovan, Fine Gael
Brian Walsh, Fine Gael
Kevin Humphreys, Labour Party
Gerald Nash, Labour Party
Seán Kenny, Labour Party
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil
Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil
Niall Collins, Fianna Fáil
Sandra McLellan, Sinn Féin
Dessie Ellis, Sinn Féin
Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin
Clare Daly, Socialist Party
Catherine Murphy, Independent
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Independent

Senators:
Cáit Keane, Fine Gael
Catherine Noone, Fine Gael
Labhrás Ó’Murchú, Fianna Fáil
Ned O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil
Eamonn Coghlan, Independent