Government suffers first major defeat of EU presidency

The Government had its first major defeat of its EU presidency when members of the European Parliament rejected a deal on greenhouse gas emissions, jeopardising the union’s climate policy.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan, who was piloting the vote through the parliament, admitted he was disappointed but said he would make another effort to have it passed.

Making companies pay for permits to cover the amount of carbon dioxide they release into the atmosphere has been a key part of the EU’s climate change policy.