Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

All of us in the House will agree that tackling climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. The deliberations of the committee and the very lively participation of all members, including the questioner, is testimony to the interest of the Oireachtas. As the Deputy recognises, I have been asked to prepare an all-of-Government climate action plan to ensure Ireland makes an effective transition to a low-carbon economy and creates a climate resilient society. This will involve radical change in every home and workplace with regard to how we generate power, how we travel, and how we farm our land. It is a collective challenge of enormous scale and importance.

I warmly welcome the unanimous vote of the Oireachtas to endorse the all-party report and to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency. This builds on the work of the Citizens' Assembly and provides a strong platform on which to build an effective implementation plan.

Every Department has been asked to examine the recommendations of the Oireachtas committee which fall within its remit and I will be seeking to integrate proposals put forward by the Oireachtas committee into the climate action plan. I have signalled our commitment to achieving 70% of supply from renewables in the electricity sector and to building an electric vehicle, EV, charging network to facilitate transition to no non-zero emission vehicles being purchased in Ireland from 2030 onwards. In respect of biodiversity, primary responsibility in this area lies with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Madigan, who has engaged with me and my Department on the preparation of the climate action plan but who has also developed specific policy initiatives for biodiversity and who has recently hosted Ireland's first biodiversity conference.

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