Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know Dr. O’Gorman is chairman of the Green Party, which was very much involved in the last climate change Bill. Does he have any information on how one actually reaches the targets once they are set and what it is going to cost in each sector? When one recommends what should be done, the science of how one does it would be a good starting place.

On the independence of the advisory committee, how does one actually define “independent”? When an academic is charged with preparing a paper on his or her specialty, he or she is bound through peer reviews and international comparisons to ensure it reaches the highest and best scientific standards available. One must also ensure the best science is available on the economic front.

Obviously, we would love to have some recommendations, although I suppose one could not look for them. If I were an academic charged with doing this, I would ensure my best paper was put forward, recommend the best possible methodology and say this was how we should be doing it. If I were a politician charged with cutting my cloth according to size, I would have to find out where I was going to get the money for it. How would Dr. O'Gorman advise me to do this?