Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)

I am honoured to speak in this debate. I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, on his appointment. I note he took a definite strategic decision to speak in global and messianic terms — I do not know who would be able to pick him up. There was no mention of the Minister's script, which I believe was the correct option for him to take. I cannot stand scripts. They are the most convoluted, contrived mechanism for talking, whereas there should be plain talking. The Minister clearly decided to talk in macro terms when he had the opportunity to do so. While I am not complaining about the Minister as he does not decide how much time he has to speak, he was given scant time to paint a global picture.

I do not wish to sound patronising in making the following point, but I find when attending political meetings that in general party members say they are glad the Green Party is in government because they somehow feel green issues will be looked after. This is not good enough, however. The Minister must infuse the Cabinet with his messianic zeal, as he sought to do in the House today.

I wish to deal with one issue that jumped off the page at me. I hope the Minister does not leave the House until I make my point. We have all been weaned on the idea of the Kyoto Protocol being good, very good, but I find it fraudulent that it allows for countries to purchase carbon credits, a concept with which I have great difficulty. While I accept I am a member of a Government party and that most parties subscribe to the Kyoto Protocol, it is wrong that countries can somehow pass up on reducing emissions in favour of buying carbon credits from unknown sources in some remote part of the world.

It is stated that Ireland is not alone in purchasing credits among countries that have targets to meet under the protocol. It is also stated that climate change is a global problem, which is the excuse given for the use of carbon credits, and emissions reductions achieved in any part of the world play an equal part in solving the problem. That is a cop-out. We will not work hard at emissions reduction if we can make up the difference with carbon credits from some remote, unpronounceable part of the globe, and then sit back smug and satisfied.

A new Kyoto protocol is planned for the period 2008 to 2012. I hope we will in some way begin to distance or remove ourselves from this aspect of the protocol. I find it bogus that one can somehow shrug off what must be done because some other group or small island in a remote ocean is not using energy. On an intellectual basis, I find this concept difficult to cope with and fraudulent.

I am not sure how the Minister would make this point in a speech or script. In global terms, we of course agree with the Kyoto Protocol, but we must recognise that the protocol was in some ways an interim, get-you-there measure that was meant to apply until we got to grips with what all this means.

I lauded the global, messianic way in which the Minister spoke. It was good to hear the macro element dealt with in this way. However, we must present in sexier terms the global challenge which faces us all. Talking in global terms is fine but we must present the issue so each man and woman who gets up each day and goes to bed each evening will see it affects him or her.

Young children are greatly interested in this issue. My eldest grandchild is only five years old so I do not ascribe to him any marvellous intellectual prowess. However, I hear him talking about what he is being told in school — he tells me not to leave my kettle plugged in, which is fair enough. At least he is getting that message, so the next generation will be that bit different. While the Minister spoke on a macro level, I find the Power of One campaign very interesting because people can relate to it, which is the whole point. There is no point in talking about global matters if people cannot understand what they can do in their homes every day to save energy. The same applies to the workplace. The subject of climate change can be made more interesting for the public on a micro level and we should be doing more about facing up to it. This major topic relates to individuals and their ability to effect changes in this respect. The Power of One tag is evocative. I would like to hear the Minister's view on that strategy, which is hugely important. We all know that we must unplug our televisions, radios and kettles as well as switching off lights. They are mundane everyday actions but they matter a lot. Ordinary people living in remote rural areas have a role to play in this regard, just as others do in a big emporium or plant that is conducting a large-scale business.

Everyone can keep energy-saving policies at centre stage but the issue must be made attractive to the public, which is where the Power of One comes into play. Sometimes, one may say that it is all about America and George Bush is not the slightest bit interested in climate change, which he is not. One may say that China is not interested either, given its 18% economic growth and air pollution. People may ask what is the use of unplugging a kettle in the face of such international examples but if everyone thought like that where would the world be? We would not be on the path to dealing with climate change, which is undoubtedly the greatest challenge facing us. The Minister said it was greater than any famine or both world wars combined. We have recently commemorated world war dead and some good television programmes were broadcast, particularly on Channel 4. In such programmes one can see, for example, how thousands died in a useless endeavour to control a hill in France. While we are all going to die some day, it is sad to see death on such a large scale occurring needlessly. We should take action on climate change for the sake of our children and grandchildren. It concerns the continuity of the human race. In a strictly historical sense, small as Ireland is, our role will be defined by how the country acted in the face of this challenge which concerns future generations. In years to come, I do not want my five grandchildren asking what their grandmother did in Parliament about climate change. If we do not act now it will affect them in future. Each of us faces that challenge and it is not a burden to be borne lightly. It is a heavy burden to which we must pay cognisance. The Minister should address those who want to hear how they can meet this global challenge in their own individual way. The Minister has a big task ahead of him and I wish him well in undertaking it.

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