The Minister for the Environment John Gormley is in Brussels today where environment ministers are attempting to hammer out the final details on a climate change package which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by 20 per cent by 2012.
Talks are at an "intense stage" according to a spokesman for Mr Gormley, who said the Minister was hopeful agreement could be reached today on outstanding issues.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen will be involved in efforts to finalise the deal at an EU Summit in Brussels next week.
Mr Gormley is also due to press for an EU-wide packaging agreement which would see packaging on goods produced in the EU reduced.
Earlier this week, Friends of the Earth accused the Government of being in denial about Ireland's responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The charity said Ireland was "dragging its feet" in the EU negotiations.
Friends of the Earth director Oisín Coghlan said the Government was trying to dodge Ireland's responsibility and accused them of being indifferent to the global consequences.
"Ten years ago ministers in this Government signed up to our Kyoto target, then completely failed to stick to it. So this time around the plan seems to be 'commit to as little as possible,'" he said.
"The EU wants to offer to cut emissions by 30 per cent by 2020 in the UN talks, but in internal EU negotiations Ireland is refusing to commit to cuts of more than 20 per cent even if there is a new global deal."
Mr Coughlan also accused the Government of refusing to schedule a promised further Oireachtas debate on a climate change bill that would put Irish emissions targets into law.