Sustaining Progress - Department of Taoiseach

To facilitate action on the high level review and to give a comprehensive and structured mechanism to
facilitate feedback on service provision, efficiency and cost effectiveness from port users, customers
and stakeholders, a National Port Users’ Forum will be introduced in 2003. The goal of the Forum will
be the achievement and maintenance of a quality service in Irish ports by enlisting the full support
and commitment of all the parties involved.
4.2.8 Energy
Action on energy infrastructure will focus on the ongoing provision of a high quality electricity
infrastructure to underpin continuing economic growth and the demands of a modern economy.
A particular priority will be to take appropriate action to ensure that generation capacity continues
to meet growth in demand, in the context of an increasingly liberalised market and independent
regulatory framework. During 2003, the Government will bring forward electricity transmission
planning legislation to overcome planning problems in the delivery of electricity transmission projects.
The Electricity Bill 2003 will deal with remaining regulatory and restructuring issues in relation to the
electricity industry and will include a universal service obligation, so that all customers enjoy the
right to be supplied with electricity of a specified quality at reasonable prices. In addition, a licensed
Public Electricity Supplier, part of ESB, will continue to act as supplier of last resort and its tariffs will
be subject to regulatory control by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).
4.2.9 Sustainable Energy
To assist in meeting our emission targets under the Kyoto Protocol, the Government will continue
to implement the policies outlined in the Green Paper on Sustainable Energy. The Government will
support achievement of the Green Paper target of an additional 500MWs of renewable energy
before the end of 2005 through the Alternative Energy Requirement market support mechanism.
The Government will publish a consultation paper on the appropriate support measures for delivery
of the targets for renewable energy to 2010.
4.3 The Environment
The objectives of policy on the environment are to promote sustainable development through
ensuring the necessary balance between environmental, economic and social aspects of development
and maintain a high quality environment as a source of competitive advantage by supporting our food
and tourism industries, by developing a leading position in environmental technologies and by
making Ireland an attractive location for people to work and live.
4.3.1 National Climate Change Strategy
The measures identified in the National Climate Change Strategy, and any additional measures
included by Government as part of the Strategy following the current review of its implementation,
will be progressed, including cross sectoral measures such as supporting forestry, carbon energy
taxation, emissions trading and other flexible mechanisms. The design and implementation of these
measures will be delivered in a coherent manner, will focus on least cost measures and will take
account of national economic and social objectives. The current review process provides for
stakeholder involvement via Comhar on which all pillars are represented.
Chapter 4 Building, Maintaining and Sharing Economic Development and Prosperity
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