Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank both witnesses for joining us. As a member of the Government and of the Green Party in particular, it is important to me to tie future Governments to this area. It is important to recognise that at this stage all of us in this room want to tighten up the legislation.

Dr. Church's sixth point was that the UK Climate Change Act has failed, specifically on the fourth carbon budget, which he believes will not be met in two years. He is also critical of the legislation before us. Dr. Muinzer said the Bill before us is an advancement on what we had in 2015. We want to make sure it is even better. What are the failures of the UK Climate Change Act that we can avoid? Dr. Muinzer mentioned a couple of those, in particular to do with public participation. It seems to me that whatever is contained in an Act, more than the Act is required, to see significant change. Would the witnesses agree with that? Are other measures needed beyond the climate Bill before us? Likewise, do the witnesses see failures in the Scottish Act or do they hold that up as the one for us to use as a template?