Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their contributions. We have heard a range of views on the clear need for action on climate change. Much of it chimes with the recent messages from our young students and their demands for action from us. Regardless of one's position on this Bill, we are moving in the right direction by spending more of our time discussing these matters.

As the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, stated, while we may not all agree on the exact details of the path, we are agreed on the destination. The Government is aware that more must be done urgently and I am working closely with the Minister, Deputy Bruton, to ensure that happens. The Minister has been clear about the Government's ambition to make Ireland a leader, not a follower, in responding to climate change. This will require a significant step change across government. Put simply, it requires increased action. New initiatives are needed across electricity, transport, heat, agriculture and other relevant sectors, building on the previous actions taken by the Government, including in the national mitigation plan and the national development plan.

The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, outlined examples of measures that have been taken. They are but a sample of what we must pursue. As a rural Deputy with a farming background, I am acutely aware that there must be credible and meaningful actions across the board. The work of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAl, and some of the measures it has been rolling out are great examples of steps than can be taken. The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment funds a number of its schemes that aim to improve the energy efficiency of homes and businesses across the country. Examples include a range of grants that are available to householders for improvements such as insulation and heat pumps. Over the last year, the measures available under these grants have been expanded to include deeper measures and to support the policy decision to transition from grant aid for fossil fuel heating systems. Other measures are in place for people on lower incomes and for community-based partnership, such as the better energy communities scheme. The SEAI is also seeking to put schemes in place to drive energy efficiency on farms. I highlight these to show that reducing our emissions will require the continued roll-out of a range of tailored and well designed measures.

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