Alex White (Dublin South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The question was to ask me my input to this Bill. It is under the remit of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and not mine, but my Department participates fully in the whole of Government approach to addressing the challenges of climate change and the transition to a low carbon energy system and, in this regard, had an input to the climate action and low carbon energy Bill.

The Bill is to provide for the approval of plans by the Government in relation to climate change for the purpose of pursuing the transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy by the year 2050. The Bill represents a commitment to existing or future obligations of the State under the law of the European Union and any relevant international agreement. It provides for the making, by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, and submission to the Government for approval, of a national low carbon transition and mitigation plan, and a national climate change adaptation framework. My Department is fully engaged with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and all other relevant Departments and agencies, in progressing this work.

As the Deputy points out, the Bill also provides for the establishment of a national expert advisory council on climate change, which will consist of a chairperson and between eight and ten ordinary members, four of whom shall be ex officio members comprising the heads of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, Teagasc, and the Economic and Social Research Institute. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, as the Deputy is aware, is an agency under the remit of my Department. The members of the council will be appointed by the Government, on the nomination of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. In nominating and appointing the chairperson and ordinary members, other than the ex officio members, regard will be had to the range of qualifications, expertise and experience necessary for the proper and effective performance of the functions of the expert advisory council. The functions of the council will be to advise and make recommendations to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the national mitigation plan, the national adaptation framework and sectoral adaptation plans.

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