The overrun on Leaders' Questions is symptomatic of other overruns. Global warming is an issue regularly raised in the newspapers. The Irish Times today tells us that in 30 years time, losses from droughts, hurricanes and floods could cost up to €800 billion annually. This is a level of impact that I do not think the Taoiseach appreciates. I do not know if the Taoiseach has read the Stern report, which has predicted a loss of 5% of global GDP per annum unless severe cuts in greenhouse gases are agreed and implemented. Otherwise, the economy and the environment will suffer beyond anything we can currently imagine. Already, the World Health Organisation tells us that 150,000 people are dying annually because of climate change.

Kofi Annan has today said that if we cut greenhouse gases the planet can cope. Perhaps that gives the Taoiseach some hope. However, Mr. Annan has also said it will cost less to cut greenhouse gas emissions now than it will to cope with the effect of them in the future. Does the Taoiseach agree? Does he agree we are facing our biggest economic and security challenges? Of course, this is also a massive social, development and human rights issue and poses major problems for biodiversity. It is the biggest challenge the global community has ever faced.

Last March the European commissioner for the environment identified climate change as a greater threat than terrorism. When I asked the Taoiseach about that he helpfully told me he was not responsible for the planet, nor was he responsible for everything that will happen between now and the end of the century. In the meantime, the Taoiseach has signed up to 15%-30% cuts in greenhouse gases for the EU, with the objective of going below 1990 levels by 2020. Those are cuts for the EU as a whole. Will the Taoiseach agree to a minimum 15% cut below 1990 levels by 2020 for Ireland? A "yes" or "no" will suffice.

Decisions on such matters will be based on all the facts and will not be decided by a "yes" or "no" across the floor of this House.

We have the facts.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is attending the conference in Nairobi this week and will be articulating Ireland's position. Delegates will continue discussions on a possible agreement to succeed the one made at Kyoto and Ireland will play a full part in that. The key focus is on involving countries that do not currently have emission reduction commitments. While I am optimistic for progress in these discussions, agreement may not be reached at this meeting. We may have to discuss this again in the New Year.

While I did not read the entire Stern report, I read the executive summary and some other sections. His full findings on the economics of climate change will be presented at the conference later this week. We support the key message of his report that there are strong environmental and economic reasons for taking action now. The German NGO Watch published a report at the UN conference yesterday which ranked developed countries according to their progress in reducing greenhouse emissions. Ireland was ranked 33rd of 56, an improvement on last year's ranking of 39th. We have been proactive and successful in addressing national greenhouse gas emissions and we continue to be so. We have decoupled our economic growth from increases in emissions during the 15 year period between 1990 and 2004. During this time our emissions grew by 23% while our economy grew by 150%. We will reduce our emissions by 11 million tonnes per annum through measures already in place including 3 million tonnes from power plants and large industry through the EU emissions trading scheme. We are committed to and supportive of the EU emissions trading scheme. Over 100 Irish installations are participating in that. The strength of the economy is placing upward pressure on emissions and further measures will be put in place to address the situation. We intend to put in place further emissions, but that will be based not on my giving figures from the top of my head but on figures provided by competent people.

Does the Taoiseach mean emission targets?

Can I presume the Taoiseach made a mistake when he said he wants to put more emissions in place? Would the Taoiseach agree that boasting we have improved from 39th position to 33rd is like boasting that Ireland will beat San Marino in tonight's soccer match? Has the Taoiseach any ambition for this country in terms of its responsibilities and the weight of responsibility on this and future generations and the economy, which stands to suffer from inaction in this area? The Taoiseach says he has read the executive summary of the Stern review. It bears a number of readings and perhaps he will get the opportunity to read the entire document. As a wealthy country, Ireland has a responsibility to give leadership in this. Our Government plans a stealth tax to pay our way out of Kyoto rather than making the necessary cuts. This issue must be highlighted and the Taoiseach needs to respond to it. The Taoiseach will stand over a weekly charge of between €2 million and €4 million on the Irish taxpayer as a result of failure to have proper building standards and harnessing of renewable energy, failure to provide proper public transport, while the Taoiseach has spoken about another 800,000 vehicles, and failure to have proper planning to reduce commuting. The taxpayer has a bill of approximately €1 billion over five years for Kyoto. That money could be spent in any number of areas including proper nursing homes, schools and hospitals. How can the Taoiseach justify that?

Today's speech by the Queen of England in the British Parliament has announced the introduction of a climate change Bill, a carbon committee and targets to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050. This is supported by the Confederation of British Industry, as announced by Mr. Richard Lambert speaking on the radio this morning. Will the Taoiseach introduce those measures? Will he introduce a climate targets Bill that will allow us to get to grips with what we need to do in this area, yes or no?

I have already stated to the Deputy, today and a number of times, that we will introduce a carbon Bill.

A year after the budget.

I have already stated that over the last number of years our national emissions have risen and that we must do more. The Minister has said several times that the downward trend cannot be maintained through existing policies so we must do more and there is no issue about that. Our experts have been working under the national climate change strategy to see what more we need to do than what we have done.

What is the target?

May I answer? Why does the Deputy interrupt?

There is no target.

The Taoiseach is competent to deal with the question and does not need Deputy Eamon Ryan's help.

We will reduce our emissions by 11 million tonnes per annum through measures already in place and I have stated that this includes 3 million tonnes from power plants and large industry, and that this is not enough. Our economy has grown by 150% while our emissions grew by 23 %, but it is not enough. We have examined a range of measures and we will study the Stern report. As the full report is not out yet, nobody has read it.

It is available on line.

To keep the Deputy informed, the full report is not to be published until January.

The hard copy is not out until January.

That is correct.

The Deputy is mixing it up with the Queen's speech.

The Minister of State should be interested in this subject.

The carbon Bill is being prepared and we will, based on what happens in Nairobi and on discussions at EU level, return to this issue.

There are no targets then.