Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach mentioned the unseasonable weather in the context of the fodder crisis. Without question, we are in unprecedented times in terms of weather patterns and severe weather events. As I passed a few people on the way into work this morning, the man selling newspapers to me said, "This is some month of May". The heads of the climate action and low carbon development Bill were published two months ago and the Bill has not yet been published. There is concern about the lack of targets in that Bill and what is perceived by those who have followed this issue for some time as a lack of commitment on behalf of the Government to the climate change agenda and to organising proper societal awareness of the issues that are emerging. As the Taoiseach will be aware, scientists across the globe are alarmed because the most recent tests have shown the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is the highest ever in the world in 3 million years. People tend to push all of that to one side and dismiss it. One of the distinguishing features of this Government has been its lack of any real engagement with the issue and this is reflected in a poor climate change Bill in terms of the heads and in the lack of urgent action on that issue. When can we expect the climate action and low carbon development Bill to be published?

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