Carbon crackdown is nigh

THE air of unreality in Irish politics is stronger than ever, now that a budget deficit of €5 billion to €7.5bn has blown an ambitious programme for government to bits.

So, warnings from the Green Party and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that we can’t meet EU targets for a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 were taken less than seriously by most.

Even when Environment Minister John Gormley said Taoiseach Brian Cowen has asked cabinet ministers to bring forward additional measures to lower carbon emissions, everyone’s attention drifted back to worries about their bank deposits. However, at the very least, it means Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith and his Department will be distracted, preparing proposals to deal with our higher-than-anticipated cattle expansion — instead of fighting for a farm waste grant extension, for example.