James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. I did not realise it was the Minister's first day back. I also welcome him back to action. It is good to see him back on his feet, as they say.

A Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to establish a national dialogue on climate change. This dialogue does not appear to have started. It is targeted for 2017. We are now into February 2017 and there is no sign of it. It is to include a forum for all stakeholders, communities, commercial bodies, non-governmental organisations, NGOs, and businesses and the farming community. There is no sign of it yet. My concern is that it will become a blockage to progress in the area. Will the Minister make a statement on its current position, including the funding that has been allocated?

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