Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. I refer to two aspects of the relationship between economic growth to greenhouse gas emissions. Would the witnesses agree there does not have to be a link between economic growth and increased greenhouse gas? For example, in Britain between 1999 and 2013, transport greenhouse gas emissions fell by 8% in the context of the UK economy expanding by 27%, as a result of investment in public transport in that period. There can be economic growth and improvements in people's living standards and a simultaneous reduction in greenhouse gas. On the other hand, is it not the case that if we want to have a serious approach to this incredibly urgent crisis facing Ireland and the world, particular sectors - and big business in particular sectors - will have their profits affected? Is it not the case, for example, that it is not possible for agribusiness to continue to massively expand profits and deal with its emissions simultaneously? It is not possible to deal with and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the economy without hitting the bottom line of the big oil companies which currently benefit from the production of that carbon.