Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am reminded of the scene in the film "Jaws" when they see the big shark going by and they think that they are going to need a bigger boat. We are going to need a hell of a bigger boat to tackle climate change, and Mr. Griffin has a critical position in that regard. Our job is to help him in this way. I agree with Mr. Griffin's own Minister when he says that the mitigation plan is not working and is a failure. The national development plan is facing entirely in the wrong direction in that there are plans for some 65 major new motorway and national roads; allowing peat to be burned until 2030 is a climate crime; agriculture emissions are rising under that plan; there are no plans or legislation for plastics recycling or the development of a circular economy; and, there is no forestry plan. I could go on to each and every sector. I have a real problem with where we are. The question is that none of us would want to start from here. I ask the question because I believe that there should be an honest assessment of the national development plan and a realisation it is not fit for purpose in climate targets. It is going to have to change as part of our submission to the national energy climate action plan, the first draft of which has to be done by Christmas. We have a role in that and we want to open it up and see what we can do to help. Can Mr. Griffin present this committee a copy of the first report of the Project Ireland 2040 delivery group issued to Government last week? Could we have access to that report?