Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 13:

In page 6, line 11, to delete "submit to the Government for approval" and substitute "submit to Dáil Éireann for approval".

This is very important for many reasons.

One of the reasons is that the issue of addressing climate change must become a matter that is at the right, front and centre of public consciousness. If it is something that is just discussed in committees and decisions are just made in ministerial offices, we will not have the necessary oversight, accountability and rigorous debate and scrutiny that is necessary. Furthermore, that does not send out a signal regarding how serious this matter is.

Every year, we have a prolonged, detailed and public debate about the public economy. This debate on the budget is the most important debate we have. We have a long run-in to the budget, with many submissions and extended debate. For the best part of several weeks, the country is focused on the fine detail of the budget and how it affects different sectors of society. We have this because, "It's the economy, stupid". Even people who do not think about politics or what goes on here most of the time focus on this debate because they know it will impact on them. If we are serious about climate action and meeting targets, we must put that issue into a similar space. That culture change is necessary if we are to deal with the issue.

I share the Minister's view, as I suspect many others interested in this issue and environmental groups do, that if we make this space, it could prove exciting, because it would allow us and the people to think about all the exciting changes, technology and changes in practices that could be beneficial, not just at the environmental level, but at an economic and social level also. That is the logic we need here, first, because we need accountability and transparency and, second, because we must push this issue into the centre stage of public debate and political life.