Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are one of only two countries in the EU that will miss its 2020 targets. It is widely accepted, although perhaps not fully by Government at the moment, that we will miss those targets. The mitigation plan has been criticised because it fails to acknowledge the economic, human and environmental costs of not taking action and does not have a sense of urgency. It is widely accepted that addressing climate change is urgent. As the Minister outlined, the plan focuses mainly on cost-effectiveness but it also emphasises the financial costs and budgetary implications associated with implementing the climate actions. The key question is how the plan will be implemented across Departments. From experience I know that getting stuff done in one Department is hard enough. If we have to get two Departments to work together, we may as well forget about it. To get three to work together is impossible. This plan must focus on an across-Government approach. How is it envisaged that will happen?

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