Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for attending and for the detailed work they have put in. The attendance today is rather unusual, and we have to accept that the attendance at meetings is not great this week. Nonetheless, the input from both groups will be included in the committee's report and the detailed work presented here will be very much have an input into our report on the future of Europe.

One point the witnesses made is that Brexit has serious repercussions in that, if the UK lowers its environmental standards, it will have a direct effect on the Republic of Ireland. If the British reach a stage where it would be to their benefit cost-wise and culture-wise to bring in toxic environmental methods and so on, this would have a direct effect on the Republic. This is a small island and we have to bear that in mind.

In a few minutes I will attend briefings on the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, who must give a report on the Act to Parliament every year. Ireland is not doing well at all. In fact, it is way down the list and one of the worst, which is surprising because, generally, we are environmentally conscious. We did not go for the nuclear option in regard to nuclear power stations, which we feel is the right way to go, but we are very reliant on fuel. In County Clare, Moneypoint alone is causing major emissions due to the Colombian coal that is being burned.

Overall, we must be conscious of the effect on our climate and the EU has a role to play in this regard. Some 50.2 million people have been affected by drought in eastern and southern Africa alone, according to a UN estimate. In 2015, Malawi experienced its worst flooding in decades. A third of the country was declared a disaster zone, with 63,000 ha submerged and 250,000 people displaced from their homes. Climate change is here; it is not something we are expecting. That is why it is important today's submissions are brought to the attention of the Commission in a report in order to alert it again to the situation. The EU is sticking with the Paris accord, although the US is pulling out, which is a major blow to the environment. We owe the witnesses a debt of gratitude for attending today and for spending time in preparing papers, which makes it very easy for us to put that information into a report and submit it to the EU. That work will not be in vain and will be read by people at EU level, as well as being seen by committee members. I again thank the witnesses.