Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for giving of their time to the committee. My first set of questions is for Professor Buckley. We all realised during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic how important our natural world is to us. We learned that we humans are lucky to be a part of it but we are not the owners of it. In this context, the Bill's neglect of biodiversity - as Professor Buckley noted, it is only mentioned twice - is a worry. I have three issues to raise in this regard. First, there is a centrality of research on natural solutions to our emissions. How might the Bill best support that? I am thinking in particular of urgent research into actively managing the hydrology and revegetation of our wetted peatlands.

Second, and I know this is quite specific, how can the Bill address with necessary urgency, the remediation of our degraded peatlands? Third, how can the Bill see us best live up to our international obligations and protect territories and ecosystems around the world? I am thinking here about cheap beef, the Mercosur deal and the destruction of the priceless rainforests.

I will address Dr. Glynn. I note the use of the phrase "equitable integrity emissions". He mentioned the early dialogue and societal buy-in, but just transition is notable by its absence from this Bill. People are going to struggle to pay carbon taxes and are going to feel that despite their best efforts and their desires, they are not going to be able to meet demands with any necessary comfort. How can we address just transition in the Bill at both national and global levels? Does Dr. Glynn think we should try to enshrine just transition into the Bill? Will he expand on his point on international aid and offsetting.