Ireland was part of the "most ambitious position" taken at the climate conference in Kyoto, Japan, to limit greenhouse gas emissions, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, told the Dail.
The Kyoto agreement presented a "challenge and opportunity" for Ireland, and the Government had a national target to limit the growth in emission of the three main greenhouse gases in the period up to 2010 to 15 per cent above their 1990 level, he said.
But the Green Party sharply criticised the Minister's approach. Mr Trevor Sargent (GP, Dublin North) said the commitment not to increase greenhouse gases by more than 15 per cent by 2010 was not only contrary to the need to reduce emissions but "will be wildly exceeded" under current trends.
Mr Dempsey said the Government had adopted nine policies, including the implementation of improved public transport and measures to reduce traffic congestion in Dublin.
A major consultancy study was commissioned by the Departments of Environment and Public Enterprise. The study would look at the considerable scope to intensify existing policies and undertake additional measures to address climate change.
Mr Sargent said the Government boasted about increasing car ownership. "One million cars, near-permanent gridlock in urban areas, greenhouse gases multiplying by the tonne and what is being done about alternative transport methods?
"Luas is being stymied. Cyclists and pedestrians are being frightened off our roadways by the growing volumes and yet the Government treats the needs of other transport-users with continued indifference."
He said an example of this was the operational programme on transport which provided for £1.2 billion to be spent on new roadways while only £275 million would be spent on public transport.
The agenda in Kyoto was economic viability, he said, and "more astute nations" knew that world oil production was about to peak and output would decline "so that in 50 years' time, deliveries will be back to 1950 levels".
Democratic Left's environment spokesman, Mr Eamon Gilmore, said Mr Dempsey should be called the "Minister for Hard Neck" because he told the world at the Kyoto conference that Ireland would shift to public transport when at the same time his Government had effectively "torpedoed" the Luas project.