Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate what Deputy Burton has said and her knowledge and passion on this subject. I am given a task to do. While the Deputy may not be happy with the reply, the issues she has raised have been noted and I will go back to the Minister on them. I will read part of the follow-up material in reply.

The Government does not accept the assessment in the CAN Europe publication of 18 June ranking member states on climate ambition and progress against targets. The report's conclusions do not reflect Ireland's ambitions on climate action, our commitment to the Paris arrangement, our very ambitious domestic 2050 objectives or our support for the EU 2030 targets. There are difficult days and challenges ahead and we are playing catch-up as a country on our climate change obligations. This is as much an opportunity as an obligation. In any event, it is a moral necessity and a vital national interest. Addressing climate change and our climate targets to 2030 and beyond is at the top of the Government's policy agenda. I was not at the launch of the climate change report yesterday but I assure the Deputy that I understand fully that she may not be happy with the reply. I only have what is in front of me. As my knowledge is not as clear as hers, I will bring what she said back to the Minister. While I am grateful to be allowed to take this matter, I stress that Deputies should be informed when a Topical Issue is to be taken by a Minister of State who might not be able to answer some of the questions that are put.

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