James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our peril. There may still be disputes about exactly how much we are contributing to the warming of the Earth's atmosphere and how much is naturally occurring, but what we can be scientifically certain of is that our continued use of fossil fuels is pushing us to a point of no return. Unless we free ourselves from a dependence on these fossil fuels and chart a new course on energy in this country, we are condemning future generations to global chaos.

These words are not my own. However, I endorse them and support their strong message on climate change. They are in fact the words of US presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama, but who said them is not important. What is important is that we take heed of and act sooner rather than later to ensure a future for generations to come.

What hope is there for this country under the current Government in the light of the admission by the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, that the Government's climate change strategy since 2002 has largely been a failure? The fact that the Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Bill has proven to be a damp squib is difficult to face. Speaking on 25 February, at the launch of a public consultation document on the Government's proposed 12 year sustainable travel plan, the Minister said about the strategy: "We did not take the hard decisions in 2002, or certainly if we took them, we did not get to implement them or achieve them. We are now at the endgame in relation to the Kyoto targets." If the Minister felt he was at the endgame in February, where are we today? This is not a game of chess in which, on completion of the endgame, the pieces can be put away and taken out another day. Climate change is deadly serious and the clock is ticking fast.

Unfortunately, the efforts of the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, do not seem to be any more effective at the helm of the Department of Transport than they were in the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It is heartening, though, that he should criticise his own party, Fianna Fáil. The party deserves much criticism in this regard, as it does in many other areas, particularly after yesterday's announcement.

A recently commissioned Government opinion poll shows that 86% of respondents, an outstanding majority of the 1,000 adults surveyed, believe that the Government is not doing enough on climate change and is, by default, ignoring climatic change, our health, the economy and financial security.

Currently, Ireland is the sixth highest polluter per capita among developed countries and, according to Stop Climate Chaos, if everyone polluted on the same level as us, we would need three planet Earths to survive. This is not an achievement to be proud of and I hope the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, takes note. It is a pity he is not in the Chamber today to hear the debate on this important issue.

There is a tendency for western public opinion to blame global warming on countries such as China and the United States while overlooking the considerable contribution to climate change made by other western countries. In this respect Irish people are guilty of a head in the sand approach. They are prepared to throw stones at every glasshouse but their own.

The greatest sell-out by any party in coalition has been by the Green Party. A wilting Green Party Minister who appears to be colour blind is certainly not the bonus for the environment we might have hoped for. Shortly after entering into government after the general election, the Minster promised that "this Government will deliver on Ireland's Kyoto Protocol commitments and will prepare Ireland for the further reductions that lie ahead". A year later, his officials, and certainly the rest of us, are pessimistic about his aspirations. According to a paper prepared for the Minster for Finance, the bottom line is that we are obliged to meet certain climate change targets under the Kyoto Protocol but there are doubts about the possibility of success. Success will mean changes to policies that will have social and economic implications.

In a move that brought outrage from the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, the Minister, Deputy Gormley, suggested earlier this month that the size of the national herd might have to be cut in order to meet targets. This is nonsense on the Minister's part. We are proud to say that this is an agricultural county. How dare the Minister threaten the future of agriculture with such comments? When one considers that the Government is targeting the sick, the vulnerable, small children and the elderly, it is not surprising that the animals in this country are being earmarked for cutbacks.

I wish to speak about our climate. Met Éireann announced yesterday that long-standing records have been broken by the recent heavy rain, storms and frost. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle comes from the supposedly sunny south east, which recently experienced its wettest June day for 50 years. The strongest winds since 1980 have been recorded in Dublin in recent times. The amount of rain that fell in the south and south east in June was twice the average for that month in that part of the country. The reality of climate change for the daily lives of citizens throughout the world, including Europe, is that food prices will continue to increase dramatically and water shortages will lead to a reduction in agricultural production. Food rioting will continue in the urban areas of developing nations. The world's most vulnerable nations will have to endure famine. Facts and details of this nature were expressed by Deputy Michael D. Higgins during his fine contribution to this debate in the Chamber this morning. It is likely that the rich-poor divide will become more marked. The poorest nations in the developing world will suffer dreadful hunger as the demand for bio-fuels grows in industrialised nations. There will be mass migration from Africa, Asia and the Middle East as hunger and rising sea levels drive people towards Europe. That will have negative implications for the EU.

I am particularly concerned about the increasing carbon figures in our transport sector. Such increases are cancelling out the gains being made in other areas. The transport sector needs to stabilise this adverse impact by reducing its contribution of more than 20% to this country's carbon emissions. Strong Government input and direction is needed if our dependency on fossil fuels is to be reduced. Such leadership has definitely not been shown by the wilting Green Party Ministers in the past 12 months. The potential for the deployment of renewable energy in Ireland is immense. I refer to energy from wind, solar, biomass and ocean sources. If we invest in the potential of technologies associated with renewable sources of energy, we will improve the economies and employment opportunities of rural areas. Action, rather than talk, is needed. Spin doctors should not be employed to come up with soft and palatable words behind the scenes. The Minister needs to get a grip on the situation if we are to ensure that our young people have a future in 2030 and beyond.

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