Mr. Niall McLoughlin:

The Senator's point is noted. As she rightly said, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to double our climate finance delivery. A further commitment was given by the then Taoiseach at COP26 to provide €225 million in international climate finance by 2025. Under this goal, there is shared responsibility between us and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Our Department's climate finance allocation has increased from €5 million in 2020 to €26 million today. This gives an indication of the level of ambition in our Department.

Regarding our credibility internationally, we stand in good stead. This was evidenced by our participation at COP27 and the central role that the Minister played in bringing very reluctant partners to a consensus on establishing a loss and damage fund. We have continued out commitment to seeing this through via our participation in securing a seat on the transitional committee, which will consider the modalities associated with creating a fund and report to COP28.

The roadmap has been published. It does not just set out how to reach the €225 million figure, but it also offers us the opportunity to learn how to continue investing and scaling up. No NGO would question the quality of the allocations we make available. They go directly to source and to where they are most needed. They do not disappear into multilateral funds. They make a difference on the ground.

As part of the national climate delegation, we work with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs on realising the programme for Government commitment, in scaling up and, following the outcome of the negotiations of the transitional committee and the decision by COP28, on how a loss and damage fund will be financed.