Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. MacEvilly for his opening statement. We had five incredibly thorough and well-articulated opening statements there. It is hard to know where to begin as there is so much in each of them. We probably do not have enough time today to go through the detail in all of them as much as we would like. I thank the witnesses for putting so much effort into the opening statements and for being clear in their asks as well. That is helpful for us.

I invite members to indicate to ask questions of the witnesses and note that, because we have five before us, as necessary, I will be strict with time. We will go with five minutes for questions and answers and I will allow latitude if I think it is important and will help the conversation.

I will ask quick questions first of Mr. O'Neill and Ms Balfe. Taking at face value the fair share - the €1.5 billion to €2.5 billion - that Ireland should pay to mitigate, in addition to our over overseas development aid, ODA, budget, as its contribution to the impact of climate change overseas as there is probably very thorough and legitimate research that has led to those numbers, I am wondering is there any analysis of the impact that kind of spending might have on our own country and can we channel that amount into this worthy cause? I am wondering has anybody looked at that. Has there been any response to that call? Is there research that would show how that could be done in such a way that we can do it politically here? It is important for us to understand that.

Ms Balfe outlined key deficits in the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018 and Action Aid Ireland is asking Government to address those. It is a similar question. What are the constraints to amending the Act? Is it purely political? Are there perhaps other legal and constitutional challenges relating to the Act? If Ms Balfe can answer that, it would be quite helpful for us.

On Mr. McEvilly's request that we would write to the Ministers, bearing in mind that COP28 is beginning, we can certainly discuss that request in our private session later this afternoon.