Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions fell by almost 8 percent last year as the industry and commercial sector dropped by a staggering 20 percent.

Resulting from the economic downturn all sectors of industry and commerce witnessed a decline in greenhouse gas emissions for the first time in two decades.

The statistics published today by the Environmental Protection Agency revealed that emission from the cement sector fell by well over a third.

Agriculture remains the biggest contributor to overall emissions representing almost 30 percent of the total, followed by energy and transport each at over 20 percent.

Dr Ken Macken of the EPA said that the decrease was partly due as a result of improvements which has been implemented.