Environment Committee welcomes key role in climate policy roadmap

The Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht has welcomed the new roadmap for the development of national policy and legislation on climate change and the central role the Committee will play in the policy development process.

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,
Tel: +3531 618 3903

Read the Friends of the Earth response here

Read the Minister's annoucement and Roadmap here