David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Sinn Féin's Bill was not perfect but we would have accepted amendments. The Minister could have taken the Bill and perfected it, if he thought it had problems or faults. The Minister is very good at finding fault but Sinn Féin would have been open to any amendments tabled by the Government. As the Minister is aware, Sinn Féin was seeking the implementation of a climate change Bill. As I stated, the Sinn Féin Bill is a redraft of a Bill produced by the climate change sub-committee in 2010, which was supported by the Fine Gael and Labour parties when they were in opposition. Consequently, there is no reason these parties cannot still support this Bill while in government. Sinn Féin's Climate Change Bill is comprehensive and could be the cornerstone for Ireland's low-carbon sustainable economic growth. It will give much needed certainty for industry and potential investors, particularly in the development of the green economy Had the Bill been passed, key actions would have been taken, one of which would have been the introduction of five-year carbon budgets. This is not a monetary budget but a limit set on the total amount of emissions that are allowed over the five-year period. This would have assisted in the management of Ireland's reduction of carbon emissions. A carbon budget would hold consecutive Governments to account. The Taoiseach of the day would be obliged to present this budget to the Dáil each year and would be open to questioning and scrutiny, which would have achieved greater transparency and accountability. It also contained a science-based target for 2050, namely, a reduction in emissions of 80% by 2050 compared with a 1990 baseline.

The Sinn Féin Bill would also have led to the establishment of a climate change commission. This would be independent of the Government, would prepare an assessment of the potential impact on the State of climate change and would review on an annual basis the progress made. It would advise An Taoiseach on steps to be taken to meet agreed targets. If the Governments policy of "hear no evil, see no evil" remains in place, it will have serious implications for Ireland and the wider global community. Sinn Féin's Bill had the potential to change all that and consequently, the Government must support such a Bill. It must stop playing silly politics and silly games on this serious issue and there must be delivery on what was a commitment in the programme for Government. It is clear that the Minister, Deputy Hogan, will not be the Minister who will be implementing a climate change Bill. Whoever the incoming Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government may be, I hope he or she perceives this issue to be a priority. If that is the case and if the new Minister brings such a Bill before the Dáil and the Seanad, it will have Sinn Féin's full support. I will conclude by again wishing the Minister well in his new endeavour.