Mr. Jerry MacEvilly:

Five to seven years ago, no one knew what a COP was, so we should give ourselves a little compliment. It is now at least on the news agenda and more people know what a COP is. There was, perhaps naturally, more media engagement last year because the COP was held in Glasgow in Scotland. That is a major risk. It is not lost on us that Sharm El-Sheikh is a holiday resort. It is very likely that civil society in Africa will find it hugely challenging to attend and be there. The oppression of human rights defenders was mentioned previously. The context of this COP at Sharm El-Sheikh is very different.

In terms of wider publicity, the public understand the climate justice message to the effect that Ireland failing to act is both unjust and stands to hurt those most at risk and least responsible. I am also struck by the fact that many of the most important climate action measures that would have the biggest impacts in reducing emissions fundamentally improve quality of life. I will not lecture the committee on it, but when it comes to transport and energy efficiency, we are all very much aware that these are the real measures that people want. There is an opportunity to link climate mitigation and quality-of-life messages, as well as Mr. O'Neill's central point that this is not a climate inconvenience; it is a climate crisis. We cannot treat as this as another simple policy question. I fully agree with the point around the need for Members of the Oireachtas to really bring these interests and decisions into question in the context of the budget and legislation.

What is needed from Government right now is implementation. While it might be understood very well by this committee, it is not simply the responsibility of the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications to deliver every single climate action measure. As we have just heard, the Departments of Finance and Foreign Affairs have a central role to play in climate finance. That is equally true across a plethora of sectoral climate issues. There needs to be much more focus, scrutiny and responsibility placed on other Oireachtas committees, Departments and public bodies in delivering on those commitments. Indeed, many of the major obstacles we have encountered have been with other Government bodies. Needless to say, this committee has a central role going forward in providing accountability and in acting like the Committee of Public Accounts in the context of public finances and holding Departments to account. I know the committee has started that process.