Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

I do not underestimate the challenge of climate change. The former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said last week that there is a glaring gulf between the statements of politicians and the actions required to tackle climate change in a meaningful way. The role of the Green Party, which is in government in Ireland for the first time, is an immense one. It will not be easy to meet the challenge of turning the super-tanker around. It is important that we do not gloss over the fact that there will be legacy issues. On many occasions during the past 25 years, the Green Party delivered a robust critique of the Ireland's system of economic development and the policies which were followed by successive Governments.

I do not think one can expect the Green Party to turn the ship of State around over the course of 12 months. Policies cannot change dramatically overnight. Climate change has been brought centre stage in the past 12 months. There are signs at international level and at home that decision-makers realise the immense task that lies ahead of them. In my 25 years as a member of the Green Party, I have never before seen such a sea change in the space of 12 months. There is a recognition of the problem and the need to tackle it. I see the first signs of the change that is needed. The new vehicle registration and taxation system, which kicked in two days ago, will bring about radical changes in the way we consider our motoring habits. The profound changes which have been made to the building regulations are dramatically different from the kind of regulations we had last year, five years ago or ten years ago. Opposition Deputies who suggest that the Green Party is doing nothing in government are ignoring the facts. We have made significant changes in two key areas which affect people's lives. While we have not turned the ship of State around, we have taken the first steps towards tackling climate change in Ireland.

I wish to mention some other measures. Those involved in energy research in our universities have been given sizeable grants. We have introduced pilot schemes to encourage domestic energy saving and new electricity micro-generation programmes. There has been an increase in the support given to renewable energy. While such measures may not be that visible to those on the Opposition benches, they will change significantly the way we live our lives. I remind the Opposition speaker who suggested that nothing has changed in the planning sector that the Minister, Deputy Gormley, rejected the development plans of various local authorities. He said they were not good enough because they did not provide for sustainable planning. He has brought an end to the passing around of rezoning motions like snuff at a wake. Enough is enough. It is time to focus development in our towns and villages, rather than three or four miles up the road where people will need to jump into a car to get anywhere. The steps that have been taken to promote sustainable development represent progress in tacking climate change. Deputies on the Opposition benches have stayed silent on the need to tackle rezoning anomalies in our counties and cities. The Green Party is making a difference in such areas. We are overseeing the provision of finance for research into wave power, environmental projects and bioenergy. The first budget to be influenced by the Green Party provided for tax incentives to be given to green businesses.

I do not deny that the Government and the country as a whole face substantial challenges. Ireland has one of the highest per capita emissions levels in the world. We need to take radical action, for example by reviewing our land use and transportation policies. We need to change the way we live our lives. The tackling of climate change involves individual action. I do not doubt that people can make profound changes in their own lives. Such changes can have benefits for everyone. We have to go further. There are huge opportunities in the sunrise industries of green energy. Hundreds of thousands of jobs have already been created in many European countries in the area of renewable energy. I have no doubt the future of Irish job creation lies in the green solutions we have spoken about at great length. The announcement by the head of the ESB of a €22 billion plan to turn that organisation into a renewable-energy company shows the kind of figures involved and the challenges we must tackle.

Farming and transport offer immense challenges. It is not business as usual, however. Those on the other side of the House who think we can continue to accept substantial emissions from these sectors must take a reality check and examine what changes can be made. The Green Party has long advocated significant capital investment in public transport. The success of the Luas light rail system in Dublin and the improvements made in long-distance rail routes show we can tackle climate change and reduce emissions through better public transport systems. It is not easy to make such changes. It is important we continue to prioritise public transport measures in the capital programme for transport.

Looking ahead to the kind of changes that might be suggested at the climate change conference in Copenhagen in December 2009, it is likely we will be required to make dramatic changes in almost every sector within the Irish economy. This can be a good news story. From my experience I know that providing greater levels of insulation and putting in better systems of heating and controls can result in real savings for the householder. We must provide safety nets. If we are to introduce a climate change levy there must be a system of supports for those on lower incomes. We already have systems in place to provide fuel allowance for the bulk of the year and we must look at those supports and, if necessary, change them to ensure people do not suffer unduly from fuel poverty.

In the face of global crisis in climate change we cannot do nothing. We cannot resist change and pretend things can go on as they have until now. We have only uncovered the tip of the problem that lies ahead. We have made only limited changes in the scale of Government policies that must be addressed in the future.

We have made a good start for the first year in government. A lively discussion will continue to bring about changes in future budgets and policies. There is an enormous challenge ahead. If members of the Opposition suggest we should not change the lightbulbs or that we should not make changes in agricultural policy they are simply burying their heads in the sand. That is no longer a solution to the challenge.

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