Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies who tabled the amendment, Deputies Barry Cowen and Catherine Murphy, and their substitutes, Deputies Charlie McConalogue and Mick Wallace, who are proposing it, to include a reference to "climate justice" when the Government is considering for approval a national mitigation plan or a national adaptation framework. Few, if any of us, doubt the validity of the concept of climate justice which considers the impact of climate change on those who have made the smallest contribution to the problem. Such persons also have the most limited means to address the issue when they are affected. Collectively we all accept this and I am no different. Climate change exacerbates many problems, not only in developing countries but in all countries, and the aim must be to provide for practical actions.

By far the single most important contribution any country can make is to take ambitious action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions as part of the global effort to limit climate change and its impact. That is what the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill is all about. It is about putting in place an institutional framework to ensure robust mitigation policy measures will be developed and in a timely fashion. Ireland, through the European Union, is active in the international negotiations that aim to deliver this December a legally binding global agreement on combating climate change. We will play a very active role in that regard. The Bill already recognises the importance of these international discussions in having regard to our obligations. Ireland has maintained significant support, reporting climate finance of €34 million in 2013, mostly for adaptation projects in Ireland's key partner countries in sub-Saharan Africa in particular. Work is continuing to explore options on how to maintain and enhance such support into the future.

From the point of view of principle, I ask that the amendment be withdrawn. While I support the spirit of the term, I do not believe we can legislate for it. I do not know of many countries that have legislated for it. From memory, Bolivia is the only country I know of that has legislated for it, although I am open to correction. While the spirit is right and I agree with it, it is not appropriate to legislate for it.