Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 10 July 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018: Discussion (Resumed)

11:00 am

Photo of Hildegarde NaughtonHildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Mr. O'Sullivan. I have one question for the SEAI and Gas Networks Ireland. Mr. Scheer referred in his opening statement to the University of Manchester research that indicates that by 2035, the substantial use of fossil fuels, including natural gas, within the EU's energy strategy will be incompatible with the temperature commitments in the Paris Agreement. Given that 2035 is only 17 years away and we need to start reaching our targets, as well as the unlikelihood of gas being discovered here in the future, would it not be better to ban the exploration of gas or oil? I ask the witnesses to bank that question for now.