John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Danny Healy-Rae for offering me a share of his time slot. I only wish I could agree with even one of his sentiments on climate change but, unfortunately, I cannot. The evidence is irrefutable. I had the pleasure of attending a lecture given by Professor Kevin Anderson, professor of energy and climate change at the University of Manchester, which was kindly organised by Deputy Eamon Ryan on one of the first days of the Dáil. I found it most enlightening and, to be honest, quite frightening. The 2° temperature rise alluded to in the Paris agreement, which is a non-binding agreement, would not be fully delivered on even if everybody were to adhere to the principles to which they signed up.

We are in a very frightening place. The weather-related incidents that have occurred in recent years, including flooding, storms, coastal erosion and agricultural damage, were due to freak weather, but the unfortunate reality is that they are no longer freak weather. Such incidents are now common and they are going to continue. We have a duty and obligation to take on climate change and accept our responsibility.

There are simple issues that we could tackle. For example, average afforestation in Europe is 33%, while in this country it is as low as 11%. Immediate action could be taken in that regard. The unfortunate reality is that the economics of climate change are not attractive. What we need to do is generate a whole economy around climate change in order to make the issue attractive. I refer, for example, to retrofitting homes, afforestation, electric cars and the public transport system. We must lead by example. We have no evidence of environmentally friendly public transport systems and we must tackle that. We must become more carbon-efficient. I have been trying to promote a project in Kerry for many years, the LNG project.

While I acknowledge that it is not the most attractive, it would be a huge improvement on Moneypoint across the way, which is our biggest emitter of carbon. It is necessary to act now on climate change to protect our future. While there are not many votes in it, unfortunately, it is our moral obligation and duty, and as a newly elected Deputy I will be pursuing this issue. Whereas my party may not have the reputation of being environmentally friendly, I certainly will do everything I can to change that perception. I hope that Deputy Eamon Ryan and I will have much more in common than not over the next five years because I really believe it is an issue that cannot be ignored any further. As a Dáil, Members must take it on and it is something for which I intend to take my responsibility.

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