Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

If it is okay with our guests, I will ask individual questions. I framed the questions based on the submissions as I read them. It is a very welcome report. It has utterly transformed the narrative on climate change and what needs to be done. It is very interesting that it was followed quickly by the Living Planet report from the World Wildlife Foundation, which backed up everything that was being said in terms of the urgency and what is required to get us out of what could be a catastrophic extinction event, as well as catastrophic climate change.

Professor Masson-Delmotte might find this an odd question. I think the language in the report is good because it talks about a rapid, unprecedented transition. For that to happen she went through the list of changes that are required on an unprecedented scale in energy, on land and urban areas, infrastructure and industrial systems. Does she think that would also require unprecedented change in the political systems? She might not want to comment on that. We met representatives from the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. One of the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly is to establish an overarching independent body that would have legislative back-up to ensure that the recommendations we make will be implemented. Professor Masson-Delmotte should have heard the resistance from the Department of Finance. We were told it would not work and the Department completed disagreed with the recommendation. Are we saying that a revolution must happen before we implement what is required in order to keep us out of trouble?

My second question is whether Professor Masson-Delmotte would agree that market mechanisms that were introduced as a result of the Paris Convention - such as offsetting, carbon trading and carbon taxes - have failed to stop climate change in its tracks. The market is the biggest contributor to global warming due to the way we produce industrially and agriculturally, how we make profits and how we trade. Does Professor Masson-Delmotte agree that market mechanisms have failed and that we must consider the type of recommendations that have been made by the witnesses?

My final question for Professor Masson-Delmotte is one that we were recommended to ask by the committee and I think it is a very good one. In terms of taking a blank canvas approach, how would she recommend we progress for a national parliamentary system such as Ireland’s? That is in some way related to my first question. Could she refer to just transition for workers and communities, because that is a real challenge for us now with Bord na Móna closing down peat production? Does she believe the European Union is doing enough to contribute to what is going on? We do not hear much from the European Parliament about legislation in this area.

Should I continue to ask questions, Chairman?