Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Like previous speakers, I wish all staff, Members and those on the Government benches a happy Christmas.

I welcome the new accord that has been agreed between Cuba and the United States as the people of Cuba have suffered greatly in the past 50 years and have shown great fortitude. Substantial progress was made by the people of Cuba, despite the blockade and the hardships they endured.

Climate change legislation is in the programme for Government, it is on the A list and has been scheduled for every term over the past two years. I welcome the fact that it is on the A list but the environment committee conducted a substantial report in the summer of 2013 and two months later the legislation arrived on the Minister's desk. We were promised the legislation would be before this House before Christmas. Last week, at the summit in Peru, some 194 states set the stage for a planned accord in Paris on climate change in 2015. The EU has set targets and we all want to meet these targets, including members of the Tánaiste's party. Why has the legislation been delayed and will the Tánaiste commit to bringing it before the House in the new year?

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