Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are still finalising the new climate action plan and will publish it in June. As part of our deliberations, it is our intention to agree to carbon neutrality and net zero emissions by 2050. We have a difficulty with signing up to more onerous obligations to be met by 2030 because we do not want to sign up to things that we cannot necessarily achieve. We can do it by 2050. We will struggle to meet those targets by 2030 but we will meet them. Last year, emissions fell by about 2%. If we continue on that trajectory we will meet our targets by 2030. We are not willing to sign up to more onerous obligations unless we can be sure we will meet them. The short answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes". The Government supports signing up to net zero emissions by 2050.

See this speech in context