Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 6, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following: “ “Just transition” means a transition that ensures the economic, environmental and social consequences of the ecological transformation of economies and societies are managed in ways that maximise opportunities of decent work for all, reduce inequalities, promote social justice, and support industries, workers and communities negatively affected, in accordance with nationally defined priorities, and based on effective social dialogue;”

I thank the Minister of State for coming in. The amendment is pretty self-explanatory. It relates to one of the key principles that I believe should be incorporated at the core of every piece of environmental legislation, or any legislation the Government is implementing at the moment. That is the principle of just transition. When we talk about just transition, we are talking about making sure everybody in our country has the ability to make the climate action changes required of them, that they are supported by the Government in doing so and that there is a fundamental addressing of inequalities in our society through these measures. It is about ensuring we use this opportunity to address any climate or environmental measures to also address inequalities by the actions Government takes, by subsidisation and by any funding or policy measures it introduces. This amendment brings the principle of just transition into the Bill.

The words "just transition" tend to be used as a catchphrase or for headlines and are bandied about by Members in government in the Dáil. What do we mean by "just transition"? There is no definition in any legislation in Ireland of "just transition" or of the responsibilities of the Government in ensuring a just transition. This definition is based on the one that was used in Scotland and that works in Scotland.

When we tried to get this definition into the climate Bill it was not accepted on the basis that it was too complex to do so. I say it would be too complex to make our climate adjustments without this "just transition" definition. This definition gives a tick list of all the things Government should consider when implementing this work.

One thing the Government can learn from recent weeks, specifically the turf issue, is that policies developed without thinking about who they will impact on and the inequalities they could create will be very difficult to get across the line. I ask that the Government incorporate the definition into this Bill to make sure that, when it develops the Bill and further policies aligned therewith, they are poverty-proofed and disability-proofed, that people who could be impacted in any way are involved in the discussions and that inequalities are addressed in that manner.