Ireland on course for E7b Kyoto fine

IRELAND’S failure to embrace production of renewable energy means that fines of up to E7 billion could become a reality by 2012, a conference heard yesterday.

Policy Director with the European Wind Energy Association Christian Kjaer said under the terms of the Kyoto Protocol (November 1997), the agreed target for the EU was to reduce its 1990 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 8% in the period 2008-2012. Under the same agreement, Ireland was allowed to increase its emissions by 12% above its 1990 levels.

"Currently, Ireland is over 30% above 1990 levels," he said.