Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach

Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016: Discussion

4:00 pm

Ms Emma Jane Joyce:

We have approximately 19 companies on our prohibited securities list as a result of the Cluster Munitions And Anti-Personnel Mines Act. That is implemented in all our indirect funds as required by legislation.

Obviously, the definition of "fossil fuel company", as set out in this Bill, is broad ranging. It is defined as a business which is either wholly or partly engaged in the exploration, extraction, refining, processing or delivery of fossil fuels. We have analysed our global portfolio and have come up with 153 names which would fall under that definition. That extends from the oil and gas sector to consumable fuels, from metals and mining to utilities. It even touches on the retail sector. That definition would also have to apply to the Irish portfolio.