Irish energy use and CO2 emissions "recoupled"

Energy-related emissions of CO2 in Ireland grew at the same pace as energy consumption last year, ending a trend that had seen emissions growth decoupled from energy use since 2001, according to new figures from the Irish sustainable energy agency (SEI). Consumption grew by three per cent in 2005, while CO2 emissions rose by 3.2 per cent. This "recoupling" was mainly down to a strong rise in peat use for electricity generation, SEI said. Opposition parties described the trend as "worrying". See releases from SEI
http://www.sei.ie/index.asp?locID=670&docID=927, centrist party
Fine Gael
http://www.finegael.ie/news/index.cfm/type/details/nkey/30066/pkey/653/
and the Irish green party
http://www.greenparty.ie/news/latest_news/emissions_worsening_artic_melting_ireland_in_crisis.