Hogan to ";clarify"; his position to Oireachtas environment committee

Hogan to "clarify" his position to Oireachtas environment committee

The Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, is appearing before the Oireactas environment committee this afternoon to "clarify" his position on climate legislation, and to discuss a timetable for a Bill. The committee issued an invitation to the minister after confusion and uncertainty arose from his remarks last month that suggested work on a climate law could be delayed by a year or more. Friends of the Earth has called on the Minister to announce that he will publish climate legislation without delay.

Commenting Friends of the Earth Director, Oisin Coghlan, said

"There is no reason why the minister can't produce a draft bill right away. If he's not prepared to publish a bill then it looks like he's blocking progress on the commitment to a climate law in the Programme for Government. The all-party Oireachtas committee is obviously keen to work on the Bill in 2012 and he shouldn't stand in their way".

"It was striking to see how hard the EU fought for a commitment to legally binding emissions targets at the UN talks in Durban. They realise that's the only way to make sure countries are serious about taking action. Equally, Ireland should put our EU 2020 targets into national law to show we are serious about meeting them. Indeed the only reason to hesitate is if you are somehow hoping we can wriggle out of them."