Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)

A tide of opinion is pointing out to the Government that it has failed in every respect on its Kyoto targets. It has been careless in the extreme in dealing with this issue. It is no longer a matter of care for them or for us; it is a matter of climate change in the world with things changing so radically and soon for all of us. One of the arguments about climate change is that we must all get involved. It is no longer a matter for the Government or the Opposition; it is a matter for every household and individual to make that change. If we do not, we all know the catastrophic situation that will apply, although not initially to Ireland. The experts tell us that we will experience benefits in that our winters will be warmer and our summers will be drier. However, there will be changes in the west coast with considerably more rain, etc.

While changes are coming here they will not be as radical initially they will be in places like Pakistan or India. In reality poorer people will suffer most. People who live in cities on river deltas or beside the sea will suffer very significantly. There will be mass movement of perhaps millions of people in cities throughout the Third World in particular. The climate will change so radically in Africa that it will transform the world and we need to play our part in it. I accept the argument that 1 tonne of carbon dioxide removed in Africa is as good as 1 tonne removed from Ireland. We are not doing enough and the tide is running out. This Government has failed. Our modern society has enjoyed high levels of growth but the Government has not kept pace in terms of reducing our carbon emissions. It has betrayed the environment. This Government and the speeches by its Ministers, particularly tonight, are a disgrace.

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