Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I bring news of shame to our country; I do not know if that is calm. A report, the Climate Change Performance Index, has just been published. It was produced by the leading NGOs dealing with this issue across the world. The process relating to the report has been running for a long time. The report indicates that Ireland is seen as the worst country in Europe in terms of climate action and is ranked 49th out of the 60 countries assessed. This is a huge issue for this country and its future, reputation and direction. When the Taoiseach assumed office, he said that he wanted to make climate action a priority. I will explain why this is not true. It is not happening across a range of different areas. Climate Action Network, one of the authors of the report, said at the conference in Bonn which I attended earlier this week that when it comes to the European talks about climate, Ireland is nowhere to be seen except playing a negative role to try to hinder positive actions. That is what is happening in the European process under the Taoiseach's Government.

The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment has just concluded a renewables strategy. In it, he says we should have no ambition to increase renewable power between now and 2030. That is the official Government position. We think we could easily accommodate an increase of 75% in this area, which would send us up the international league tables. If we did that, we might start holding on to some of the Apple investments that are now reading the tea leaves and heading off to Denmark - not just because our planning process delayed its project but because it senses that this country is not serious about the matter. That is a significant issue for the development of rural Ireland, including Mayo and Galway.

The position regarding transport is the same.

The Government has just published the national planning framework which states that we want to cut emissions but is doing absolutely nothing about it. It is all roads and the same old model of sprawl and growth outwards. That is what it is actually doing. The Citizens' Assembly did a wonderful job looking at the issue. The sense of dismay in the assembly at the lack of leadership was absolutely tangible. It supported the recommendation from Alan Matthews that we should turn Irish agriculture towards a better and more profitable system. The Taoiseach's Ministers immediately debunked it and said "No". Last week, I asked the Minister for Finance what price he applies to carbon in the projects in his new capital plan. He said €7 a tonne when the better people, the World Bank and the European Investment Bank, have set it at €40 and €50 a tonne. In every area the Government is failing in climate action and it is starting to come home to roost where we are shamed in the world. Our green reputation is in tatters. The Government is spending a fortune on Origin Green branding but is doing nothing about it in reality. What will change? What leadership does the Taoiseach intend to show?

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