Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 26 November 2019

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment (Supplementary)

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, which is a long-established body, worked for years with all of the social partners involved. It has an established track record and an established administration. It also has experience in dealing in innovative ways and providing guidance to not only Government but all of the partners on how to be innovative and respond to change. I saw the NESC as a natural choice to do the type of work that we wanted done here. It will carry out the review and make recommendations on the models we should have over the next decade. It will be offering a significant policy guidance. What we have in the just transition commissioner is a more immediate on-the-ground response in terms of meeting individual bodies, designing the models that can make a difference in the midlands, working with local authorities and community groups through the regional enterprise strategy on how we can mobilise the resources, both Government and wider funding in terms of the Project 2040 funds of €4 billion. I would see those as areas that we can mobilise as well.