Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 108

In page 37, between lines 17 and 18, to insert the following: “(b) in the case of a body seeking funding, to establish whether the body complies with national policy, legislation and objectives with regard to climate action,”.

I am happy to move the amendment. I apologise to the committee for not being present to move the previous amendment. I was monitoring online from another meeting and, unfortunately, it was not being broadcast. I missed those amendments for that reason.

That series of amendments, which I discussed with the Minister, as he acknowledged, is about trying to set on a firmer footing the importance and primacy of climate action within this piece of legislation, and in particular that the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 and our obligations under the Paris Agreement are acknowledged explicitly within the text of this Bill.

I understand the argument that, of course, this Bill must have cognisance and reference to all of the other pieces of legislation. I feel the case for climate action is such that it deserves a specific reference in and of itself, however. I will not delay the committee any further than that given that I missed my initial opportunity. I am glad to have had the opportunity to retrospectively put the case for those amendment.