IRELAND TAKES EU TRANSPORT COUNCIL LINE ON

UNCLAS DUBLIN 000529 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR IO/T AND EB/TRA; AMCONSUL MONTREAL FOR U.S. MISSION TO ICAO; FAA FOR FILIPPATOS, REIMOLD, AND BURLESON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAIR ETRD SENV ECON EI SUBJECT: IRELAND TAKES EU TRANSPORT COUNCIL LINE ON AVIATION EMISSIONS REF: A. STATE 83246 ¶B. DUBLIN 69 ¶1. (SBU) Ireland adheres to the June 8 EU Transport Council conclusions about including aviation in emissions trading and incorporating third-country carriers into a trading scheme, according to Ethna Brogan, Irish Department of Transport Principal Officer for Aviation Security (and environmental issues),to whom Pol/Econ Chief delivered ref A demarche on June 26. Brogan noted, however, that the Council had acknowledged difficulties in including third-country carriers without mutual consent. Before the ICAO General Assembly, moreover, the Council would not finish discussions on the technical aspects of proposed legislation extending the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to aviation. Brogan added that the Commission appeared optimistic about the possibility of persuading third countries as to the merits of joining the EU trading scheme -- optimism that she indicated Ireland did not share. She also recounted that the ECAC discussions with the USG in April had made clear that the United States and the EU were "headed for a train wreck" at the ICAO Assembly on the emissions issue. (Comment: Per ref B, Brogan and her Transport colleagues had earlier expressed Ireland's preference to proceed on the EU emissions proposals only after the ICAO Assembly discussions. Her tone throughout the demarche suggested that Ireland remained uncomfortable with the Transport Council's conclusions on including third-country carriers in emissions trading.) ¶2. (SBU) Regarding ref A's points on charges, the Irish Aviation Authority does not impose local air quality emissions charges. FOLEY