Climate change laws set to be fast-tracked

THE Green Party’s climate change reforms look set to be fast-tracked into law ahead of the general election after publication of the long-awaited bill just two days before Christmas.

Green leader and Environment Minister John Gormley launched the legislation which party supporters will hope can help them reclaim core voters in the early 2011 ballot.

The Green-sponsored law to publicly elect the Lord Mayor of Dublin with new powers had already reached committee stage in the Oireachtas before TDs and Senators began their four-week Christmas break.