Government Exhausted By Emissions Target

The Government has admitted it is facing a "real difficulty" in meeting the emissions targets, following a recent report.

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan made the comments following projections from the Economic and Social Research Institute, which suggest Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions will have increased by nearly 5% in 2007.

The rise in carbon emissions is in stark contrast to the targeted decrease in emissions by 3%.

Minister Ryan described the projected figures as a "real difficulty" and a real challenge, but one that the Government was determined to deal with by creating jobs in the new eco-tech sector.

However, Fine Gael's Energy Spokesperson Simon Coveney TD, called on the energy minister to outline in detail how the Government would meet its target. "The projected figures released today clearly show a dramatic rise in Ireland's emissions and are proof of Government inaction in the area of reduction, despite the Green rhetoric," said Mr Coveney.

He added: "This is an extremely worrying development for many reasons, not least the prospect of having to purchase carbon allowances on the open market in order to compensate for increasing emissions at a time when taxpayers' money is scarce."

(DW)