Mr. Brian Carroll:

I thank the Chair and members. I am accompanied by colleagues from the Department. Mr. Frank Maughan is head of climate mitigation and awareness, Mr. Eamonn Confrey is head of electricity policy division and Ms. Rebecca Minch is head of energy efficiency and affordability division. I also acknowledge our colleagues from the EPA and SEAI.

The Government published its first statutory national mitigation plan, NMP, in July 2017, explicitly recognising that it does not represent a complete roadmap to achieving the objective of transitioning Ireland to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by 2050. The mitigation plan begins the process of development of medium to long-term options to ensure that we are well positioned to take the necessary actions in the next and future decades. Importantly, the national mitigation plan is a living document that will be updated as ongoing analysis, dialogue and technological innovation generate more and more cost-effective sectoral mitigation options. Policy development and implementation will happen in parallel.

Climate mitigation policy requires strong governance and accountability including oversight by the Oireachtas, independent advice from the Climate Change Advisory Council and co-ordination across Government supported by continuing investment and robust technical and analytical input. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 requires relevant Ministers to present an annual transition statement to both Houses of the Oireachtas setting out details of measures and actions, and their effectiveness. A climate action high-level steering committee, chaired by the Minister, Deputy Naughten, and meeting quarterly, drives ongoing policy development and implementation. It has met twice to date. The technical research and modelling group, TRAM, chaired at assistant secretary level and meeting monthly, provides the necessary analytical support. The committee has identified 45 actions as being relevant to its work today. A separate briefing note was provided in advance on progress on these actions and we look forward to engaging with the committee on them.

In terms of ongoing policy implementation and development, and building on the national mitigation plan, it is important to highlight the publication in February of the national development plan, NDP, which will lead to a significant step change in funding available for climate action over the next decade to address the significant climate mitigation challenges that Ireland faces. It provides for a strong focus on strategic investments in the areas of transport, renewable energy, grid development and interconnection, and the built environment. Almost €21 billion, between Exchequer and non-Exchequer resources, will be directed to addressing the transition to a low-carbon society. In addition, the NDP allocated a further €8.6 billion for investments in sustainable mobility. This capital investment will enable us to deliver a significant reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions over the period to 2030.

Preparation of the national energy and climate plan, NECP, which is an EU requirement, is at an early stage, with a draft to be finalised by the end of 2018 and the final plan to be developed by end-2019. In terms of climate mitigation policy, the NECP will need to align with and, where possible, build on the NMP and the NDP. Given the significant investment priorities already identified in the NDP, the NECP is likely to have to look to taxation, regulation and behavioural change actions and measures to further develop mitigation policy at this juncture.

Decarbonisation will involve fundamental societal transformation, as well as ongoing engagement with society through the national dialogue on climate action, NDCA. The central objective of the dialogue is to create awareness, engagement and the motivation to act across society. Under the dialogue, a climate ambassador programme commenced in September 2017, a climate action week took place in October 2017, a green schools expo was held on 22 February 2018, and the EPA hosted a series of lectures on climate action policy. An advisory group has been established by the Minister to input into the organisation of regional and local events that will be piloted shortly.