Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

I first became aware of climate change a long time ago, in the late 1970s when I was barely out of short trousers. I read an influential book called Eco Science by two American authors who pointed out that climate change was an important issue. They wrote about the hole in the ozone layer, air pollutants and other problems facing the planet on a global scale. We have been able to address some of those challenges. The hole in the ozone layer is repairing itself. We no longer put chlorofluorocarbons into every aerosol or fridge. If there is an interest in tackling a global problem we can solve it, but the Government does not realise the importance of climate change.

We tend to joke about climate change in Ireland. When we get a warm October, people say "Ah, let's have more of this stuff; isn't it great?", but climate change is a deadly serious issue. In Darfur, tens of thousands of people are dying from drought that can be attributed wholly or partly to climate change. In the Pacific Ocean, the populations of island nations are facing the prospect of emigration to survive. We have already seen islanders from that area being transferred to New Zealand. When storms hit Bangladesh, rising sea levels cause thousands of deaths.

Climate change, therefore, is a deadly problem that must be taken seriously. I am concerned that the Minister is sleep-walking on the issue and failing to treat it with the gravity it deserves. The Minister is the Neville Chamberlain of his time. He is coming back off the plane from Nairobi with a press release in his hand which says "It's all right folks, we have it under control". I do not think he realises the importance of the issue.

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