Ireland's sustainable development document, Making Ireland's Development Sustainable, has been described as a fudge by the Green Party spokesperson on the Environment Mr Ciaran Cuffe.
Mr Cuffe said: "the Government is reneging on its commitment’s to the Kyoto Protocol". He said the document allows for an increase in greenhouse emissions of 27 per cent. "This is a double the 13 per cent that was agreed.
"This Government is breaking targets left right and centre and the Minister made no mention of breaking these targets," he said.
Earlier today the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen unveiled the document which is part of Ireland’s preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg next month.
Mr Cullen said the big challenge for the Republic and the world is to ensure that policies on sustainable development were implemented rather than discussed.
On the issue of thermal treatment, or incineration, the Minister said it was important to nail down some misconceptions.
"Thermal treatment is not anti-recycling. Achievable recycling is the foremost objective of the plans with average recycling targets set at between 40 per cent and 50 per cent. Only then do they give consideration to thermal treatment and landfill of the remaining waste," he said.
He said "collective responsibility" was needed in dealing with waste and that progress towards sustainable development had been slower than had been hoped.
The Minister also dismissed reports that the money raised from the plastic bag levy is being used by the Government to build roads.