Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the committee's findings. It is important to speak about the just transition. People are beating a drum for making changes quickly now, but that will be more harmful to our country and people, especially to rural Ireland. We must plan for the future and ensure that we bring everybody along with us. There is a great responsibility on all of us. It starts with the Government and the action plan. With regard to rural areas, we cannot simply use a big mallet to crack a nut, destroy much of rural Ireland and create something we would not like. We must create the sustainable jobs, provide rural transport and public transport and ensure that when people are told that fossil fuels must no longer be used there are alternatives in place for them.

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