Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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The Minister opened by mentioning the question of the carbon budgets. We should be front-loading more action into the first carbon budget. We do not have the balance right. For any of us in politics, the moment we are there in a room and able to act is the moment to do so. On page 23 of the action plan, there is a reference to the sequestration potential of trees. The latter will only come to fruition after 2030. I am concerned because the language seems to suggest they may be counted earlier. There is a reference that double-counting or counting them later will be avoided. The key thing is that our carbon budgets need to be real and they need to be real to the period to which they apply. There is also reference to future technology. The Minister will recall that it is a specific recommendation of this committee that future potential removal technologies in respect of emissions would not be counted within a period. If they deliver dividends for the 2030-35 budget, so be it, but let us deal with it then. I am concerned that there is a blurring of the lines, especially in the context of how land-use and land-change emissions and the technology are being approached. I would like to have clarity on that in the plan. That will be important.

Another reason we should be front-loading action is because right now we have access to extremely low-cost, 0% loans at EU level. We have also been given funding from the recovery and resilience fund. That is one part of it. There are very low-cost loans available at present and the fiscal rules have been suspended. That is why I am really concerned that the narrative of putting things off-balance sheet and so forth is still in the mix. Those are the old rules. We need to be very clear that a financialised approach whereby we add private profit into what we do on climate change will be a problem. That does seem to be the approach. We should not be trying to mobilise private finance. It needs to be mobilised, but we have sticks to do that, as well as carrots.

Will Ireland actively advocate for a loss-and-damage facility and press the EU to support it at COP27? How do we plan to deliver on the methane commitment we have made? Will it be through farming? Will it be through championing internationally the LNG infrastructure ban? Will the Minister also comment on nitrates?