David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That may or may not be the case. This committee carries out look-back exercises in respect of previous year, two years, three years or five years. Today, we can benchmark Mr. Carroll's Department and the State against targets they set themselves five years, ten years or two years ago. Leaving aside what might happen in the future, I accept that there is a new climate action plan and that there will be more scrutiny and more targets set for each line Department.

I sit on the committee which will be responsible for scrutinising the Department so that is a step forward. In terms of what has gone before us, however, is it fair to say that we have been in a position where we have not reached the targets that we either set ourselves or were set for us as part of overall agreements?