Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish the Minister of State well in what is a pivotal year as we come to breathe life into the new climate legislation. I will be interested to hear his comment on the impact indicators he has shown relating to greenhouse gas emissions in the full Estimates statement. We had a 4% decline in emissions in 2019 and a 3.5% decline in 2020. Clearly, the Covid-19 pandemic influenced the 2020 returns, but even with that 3.5% is surprisingly low for that year. While we have been going in the right direction in respect of emissions for the past number of years, to what extent are special, Covid-related conditions underpinning that? To what extent are we seeing genuine progress in the various sectors?

On the just transition commissioner, am I right in recalling that the programme for Government commits to legislation to establish a just transition commission on a more permanent basis? I had the privilege of setting up the arrangement on an interim basis in the wake of the crisis in the midlands, but where are the plans for a more permanent legislative underpinning?

I would be interested to hear when the next call for the climate action fund is anticipated. The money for it is not significant, relatively speaking, but in terms of a demonstration effect, it has been an important element in sustaining interest and progress in doing things in different ways. I do not recall the last time there was a call and I would be interested to hear when it will next occur.