Mr. Shane Conneely:

We have to agree that systems change is critical. We think the reliance on individual action is a mistake. Our sense is that there has been a great neglect in Ireland of issues relating to climate action in particular, and not just locally but also at the European level.

Locally, we can look at the case study of the offshore energy regulatory framework. That fell apart in 2007. We spent 15 years trying to get a replacement put in place. We saw this embodied in another way in 2013 and 2014 in the context of the green investments everyone was trying to undertake. The Deputy brought up the issue of data centres. If we had not been neglecting this offshore aspect, data centres would not be an issue for us now. The symptoms we are experiencing are largely a result of a type of semi-malign neglect in respect of taking those kinds of decisions over the years.

At the European level, we can see an echoing in this regard. Our chief executive cannot be with us today because he is in Sweden, where there is a discussion of critical rare materials at the Eurochambres level and the legislation involved there. This context is critical to us at a European level. We need batteries for cars. We need the same materials for creating magnets for the wind energy sector. These are not necessarily available because 90% plus of that supply chain is based in China. This echoes something Deputy Bruton mentioned earlier regarding the other blocs. We have not been taking enough action in this space, either collectively as a bloc or individually as a country. It is very hard for businesses and our members to be taking the kinds of actions they must take to have sustainable businesses if the State is not also catalysing this change.