Failure On Climate Change Targets To Cost €50M - FG

A Fine Gael TD has said the Government's failure to meet the EU targets on carbon efficiency will cost the tax payer €50 million per year.

Simon Coveney, who is the party's spokesman on Energy, said Ireland's performance in reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions is hopelessly inadequate adding that this year's Carbon Budget is proof the Government's strategy on Climate Change is failing.

Mr Coveney said: "This failure is not without a cost. As a result of our failure to meet our obligations, the Government has been forced to set aside €50 million for 2009 to purchase Carbon Credits because of our high emissions.

"This is money that could and should be spent on reducing the savage tax burden that has been introduced in this year's budget."

In Tuesday's Budget speech, the Finance minister Brian Lenihan admitted that the Evironmental Protection Agency projected that the annual average emissions will now be higher than previously estimated.

However, Mr Lenihan announced an extra €15 million to pay 30% of the cost of retro-fitting homes to increase energy efficiency and lead to CO2 savings and a new scheme to examine the potential for energy savings in local authority housing stock.

The measures proposed were not enough for Fine Gael, or indeed the Labour party, whose finance spokesperson Joan Burton said she was disappointed that environmental issues had not been addressed. She further hit out at the Budget for taxing petrol when so many people lived far from the cities where they work and did not have access to public transport.

These sentiments were echoed by the Fine Gael minister, who added: "What the Government needs is more ambition and imagination in order to target the energy and transport sectors in particular to reduce emissions.

"Unfortunately the Green Party has been disappointing and ineffective in leading Ireland in a new and more environmentally responsible direction. This must change or the cost for taxpayers in Ireland will increase."

(DW)