Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Watt, Mr. Moran and their colleagues for attending. I address my first question to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It is emerging that a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach must be adopted to address this as a matter of urgency. I heard the officials mention the Citizens' Assembly recommendation and their views on whether there should be a separate body. Does the Department have a view on the type of leadership required? Has it examined that question with reference to what other states are doing around governance? There has been plenty of discussion here about whether it should be led by the Taoiseach's office or the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

On the national mitigation plan, there is a proposal for a review of public expenditure. It is an appraisal and evaluation. Does the Department have plans for when that will take place? Climate action is a strategic investment priority in the national investment plan. I was wondering how the Department intended to prioritise climate action expenditure. Funding is provided for climate action through the disruptive technologies innovation fund and the €1 billion rural development fund. What type of evaluation framework will be put in place around this type of expenditure?

My next question is directed to the Department of Finance and it is on hypothecation, that dreaded word which is not in the dictionary of finance officials. There has been some discussion around whether funding raised through the carbon tax should be ring-fenced. Does the Department have a view on that? What is the Department doing to invest the money it is collecting from the carbon tax? Is it being used to transition to a low-carbon economy in some shape or form? Should there be further incentives to encourage the public to move to low-emission vehicles and electric cars? There seems to be a view that we must do a lot more there. I acknowledge Deputy Pringle's excellent Bill which has been accepted. What is the Department going to do with the divested proceeds? Is it going to be invested in green and low carbon investments in order to accelerate to a more sustainable economy?