Mr. Jerry Mac Evilly:

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan referred to policy coherence. One recommendation of ours is that the committee could examine the issue of policy coherence. Deputy Durkan referred to biomass and biofuels, and those are issues we have concerns about. We ask that those matters be taken forward also. In relation to Ireland's emissions being perhaps irrelevant in the context of the big players, while they may be small in comparison with the biggest countries, it does not change the fact that our harmful emissions contribute and will contribute to damaging climate change. It also goes back to the point about exceptionalism. This is also true of a lot of other smaller developed countries and it is an issue of responsibility, as the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, has stated.

As to why this is not high on people's agendas, it is probably not understood that this is a human rights issue. It is affecting food security in the developing world. By 2025, two thirds of Africa may be subject to water stress, with similar pressures on crop production. With that in mind, we are making recommendations on mitigation which Ireland needs to put in place. It is not about putting pressure on an individual industry, but about a mitigation plan across all sectors.

Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked about Ireland being subject to financial pressures. That is precisely why we have recommendations as to how climate finance can be generated. In other words, it is about finding new mechanisms to generate those funds.