Results of the recent public consultation on climate policy development published the first step the first in the development of a programme for the development of national climate policy and legislation. Additionally, the Secretariat of the National Economic and Social Council completed an interim report on climate change in June and the Heads of a climate Bill are expected to be published by the end of the year.
The consultation, according to Minister or the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, TD, was “both positive and encouraging in terms of the level of awareness and interest in the national climate policy development agenda”. He hopes that the material now released “will stimulate the on-going debate on a progressive way forward on both environmental and economic grounds.”
The Minister confirmed he intends releasing the NESC interim report at the end of September once it is considered by the Government. He will also invite views from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht who will also recieve the Heads of a climate Bill and the NESC report for consideration “in due course”. He added: “I look forward to receiving their report on the development of policy and appropriate legislation when they have concluded their deliberations in June 2013.”