Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

We will have these arguments in more detail at the committee level. I appeal to the Minister and the Minister of State to end any issuing of offshore exploration licences for fossil fuels between now and when the Bill progresses. It would be undemocratic not to do so as they have had a signal from the House that there is a cross-party support for the measure. More important, we need to signal to the fossil fuel industry and the world in general that we are taking climate change seriously. This tallies with the previous argument made by Deputy Daly because if we continue to invest either directly or indirectly in exploration for fossil fuels, we will not really be taking the matter of climate change any way seriously. The science behind this cannot be refuted and climate change is rapidly increasing the temperature of the planet. We know 80% of these fuels must now stay in the ground. That is what the Bill is about. I know there will be a big discussion about energy security but I hope this Bill will give a kick up the backside to this Government to get its finger out and invest seriously in renewables while moving away from fossil fuels.

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