Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 6, line 9, to delete "24 months" and substitute "6 months".

This is pretty straightforward and the reason for the amendment is clear. It would require the publication of a national plan within six months rather than the current two years outlined as part of the Bill. The delays leading to this Bill in the first place have left Ireland well behind many of our European counterparts, such as the UK, and further delays will only exacerbate the challenge of tackling climate change. The Paris Summit in December demands that Ireland takes a strong negotiating position. Having a clear plan, at least provisionally, at that stage would strengthen our hand. It goes back to some of the arguments previously made about targets and their absence within the Bill. Where there is a particular benchmark, the publication will be within two years, which is too far down the line. It can be done much more promptly than that, so I urge the Minister to accept the amendment so the publication can be within six months.