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

I wish to make one further point. I am trying to get my head around what the Minister has said and to understand the logic behind his opposition to this. If he believes this amendment dilutes in some way the requirement or compulsion on the Government, that is a legitimate concern. Perhaps he could clarify that. However, I do not believe the Government and the Dáil should be set off against one another. The legislation could compel the Dáil to pass this in order that there would have to be a mitigation plan and in order that the mitigation plan would have binding targets we must pass. However, the point in saying that it should go to the Dáil also and not just to the Government for approval is that the issue and responsibility for it should be front and centre of political and public life. The plan should become a big event and be interrogated in a public way. The arguments around the plan and different views on how best to put the plan together should be discussed and then the decision should be made on the plan. The requirement to have the plan, one that will be effective, is compulsory. There is no choice about that. The Government must present the plan to the Dáil.