Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny today criticised what he said was the Government's "appalling" record on the environment, warning that a change in government was the only way to deal with the serious environmental challenges that lie ahead.
Mr Kenny said the Government had missed all of Ireland's Kyoto targets and the country's greenhouse gas emissions have increased at twice the target rate.
He also highlighted the fact that Ireland was now ranked 22nd out of 27 EU countries in terms of wind, wave and biomass generation, despite having the best potential in the EU and that only 3 per cent of Ireland's primary energy supply comes from renewable sources.
Outlining his party's environmental policy at a new recycling centre in Co Mayo, Mr Kenny said Fine Gael was committed to meeting these challenges head-on.
He said, if elected, his party would establish a department of energy and environment to co-ordinate all climate change initiatives.
The party also wished to lower VRT for drivers of energy efficient cars and abolish excise duty on bio fuels to increase production.
Fine Gael, he said, was committed to a recycling target of 50 per cent of household waste and would reduce government department and agency CO2 emissions by 2 per cent per year.
"Not too long ago many people in mainstream society saw climate change and green issues as peripheral issues. Today they are clearly central to our future," Mr Kenny said.
"Every day new studies and new predictions are published on the pace and consequences of climate change and the failure to protect our environment. But the FF/PD Government's record on the environment is appalling," he said.
"Fine Gael and Labour will bring a fresh approach and new ideas to Government that will make a real difference to the environment," Mr Kenny said.