Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Sometimes at meetings like this, we focus on what is yet to be done rather than what has already been done. I will try not to be partisan but the term of this Government has been extraordinary in trying to reshape the policy approach towards green and climate issues. The role of the Green Party has been central to that. It has been mainstreamed and accepted by all parties as regards the need for acceleration to deliver on the ambitious targets we set for ourselves, as well as the legal obligations because we also passed legislation.

If one looks at agriculture, which gets a lot of focus these days when it comes to emissions, water quality, etc., agriculture has reduced chemical fertiliser use by 30% in two years - 15% this year, 15% last year. Ten years ago, that would have been thought impossible.