Dáil debates
Wednesday, 8 November 2006
National Climate Change Strategy.
1:00 pm
Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
It was possibly the fluoride on which we are also awaiting action. It is rather like the climate change strategy, we might be waiting for a while. Will the Minister clarify the specific number of submissions received? He said he received 322 submissions. I know of one NGO which stated that the number submitted through it to the Minister was towards 500. Will he clarify the number of paper submissions and the number of electronic submissions he has received on this issue? He stated that they will be published. When will they be published? Has the Minister any intention to make annual yearly reductions in emissions mandatory? Future generations will judge him by the action he took on climate change. The compelling evidence is that the actions of the Government and of the Minister's Department have been increasing climate change emissions rather than reducing them. We cannot continue to build motorways as if the oil will last forever. We cannot continue with building regulations which make us look appalling in comparison to other European countries and a dedication to urban sprawl, led by the Minister, which is increasing long distance commuting times by car. What action is the Minister taking and will he be able to tell future generations he did the right thing on climate change?
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