Ms Karol Balfe:

On the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act, we have shared our entire findings and research with the relevant Ministers. The response was unclear as to what the Government will do. One of the things we are committed to doing is to bring forward this discussion and update the Act . We are working with Deputy Pringle's office to put that forward for further discussion in the Oireachtas. I hope there would not be much resistance to this because it is clear how and why the legislation could be strengthened.

The question of Ireland’s economic model is a more challenging one to address politically. This is something the Government has to look at and this is where a whole-of-government approach is fundamentally important. Engagement with the Department of Finance and the wider government is needed. This is an important issue of policy. We can make all of the pledges we want on climate finance and loss and damage but that is no good if we are undermining that through our economic model. The level of money flowing through Ireland is shocking. I hope the Government can look at this. Government will not change its overall economic model but it could specifically look at the impact on the global south of fossil fuels and agribusiness that are being channelled through Ireland. I hope this will merit discussion in light of the climate crisis we face.

It is not to say that the economic model should not be adjusted because highly reputable bodies have criticised Ireland's tax model for its devastating impact in undermining the ability of developing countries to fund public services and to address poverty and development. Now this research reveals the added dimension of climate change within that. It is not going to be politically easy but the level of crisis and the level of leadership that is required from Ireland to address the climate crisis is absolutely imperative.