Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chairman. I have two further brief further questions. I will put my first to Professor Ó Gallachóir. Judging by the contributions from witnesses so far there appears to be a high level of consensus and agreement. During the process of coming to the proposed carbon budget and the 4.8% for the first period and the 8.3% for the second period, what level of agreement or consensus was there among the carbon budgets committee members? Was there much debate? I do not want to land Professor O Gallachóir in it or anything but I am just wondering how difficult was it to come to a consensus on the proposed budget between the entire carbon budgets committee membership?

My second question follows on from the Chairman’s question on biodiversity. Professor Ó Gallachóir’s opening statement and responses on how the proposed carbon budget was arrived at referred to just transition, economics and economic viability, social issues, etc. How much attention was given to the potential impacts on biodiversity and the potential role of biodiversity in achieving these targets?