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

I used to teach history, so I know what is in some of the history books. The debate on climate change is painted in such biblical terms that one wonders how could one woman unplugging a kettle have any bearing on what will happen if we are all going to be submerged beneath the waters, never to rise again. Sometimes, rather than confront what needs to be addressed, we simply push it to the back of our heads and say, like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind: "I'll think about that another day". We are inclined to put it on the back burner and say it is for someone else to address, but no one else will address these matters; it is up to every single person.

I applaud the Green Party which was convinced it could change the world overnight on the Opposition benches. However, the reality of being in Government has shown this is not possible. Even God Almighty cannot change the world overnight. When the Green Party came into Government it decided it would proceed by short steps and did so. Addressing such matters as efficient light bulbs among others seem small, but no more than the "Power of One" campaign when added up will render what the Green Party hoped to and will achieve in Government. The Green Party during its term of office in Government with Fianna Fáil will be able to bring about a reduction in emissions.

I do not know which of the previous speakers brought up the matter of how we buy carbon credits. I have spoken about this in the Dáil and I believe it is a con-job. The idea that a country can somehow buy carbon credits from a remote island in the Samoan ocean and that this renders the power plant in County Clare or some other guzzling installation relieved of some of its duties makes no sense. How could that be? We are all one global village and, therefore, it is one world. I do not know who thought up the idea of buying of carbon credits. It was probably some brainy civil servant and the relevant Minister nodded, agreed it sounded like a good idea, brought it further and so it became official policy. However, this cannot be right. The implication is some poor benighted small place in the world with no power or emissions of any kind should be allowed to sell off what it would have used to a country which has over polluted. This does not make for an equitable or arithmetic solution. We are only fooling ourselves. I wish we would drop the idea because it is an erroneous path to pursue.

I believe the future lies with children and young people. It is not that I wish to divest myself of my responsibilities in this regard. I have found that visiting schools, discussing the matter with young children and listening to my very young grandchildren, who are only beginning to talk, has revealed to me their good ideas. They want to make changes and they do not feel exhausted and worn out as we do. It is lashing rain outside and it looks like it will rain for the whole summer. There are very bad weather forecasts. There is a deepening economic gloom. However, instead of being bogged down by all of that young people see the rainbow all the time, which is lovely for them.

If we can — indoctrinate may be the wrong word and I would not like to over-use it — give our bible on how the world can be changed to young people, they could bring their common sense, youth and optimism to bear on what is truly a sizable problem. It would be easy for us to ask what good is all our effort, given the behaviour of China and the USA. The USA has been very tardy in coming to the table with any ideas. One is tempted to ask what poor Ireland can do in such a climate. However, this brings me back to what I said about the "power of one", which is a concept we do not emphasise enough. We must find some language for them and I appeal to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the Green Party and all parties who wish to convey our sense of momentum and urgency about this matter to do so. We should seek to express it in a positive way. When one begins to read an article about climate change it is couched in such biblical, awesome terms that one is inclined to ask what the point is in installing solar panels on one's roof. I hope to do that this winter. I do not know if it will make a great change, but I am told it might.

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