Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister might answer the question asked. Has the Government decided to oppose this deal? The Minister has responsibility for climate change response and he did not deal with the central point I made. A right-wing leader who favours development over conservation was elected in Brazil. A hectare of land is being cleared every minute there and the single biggest reason to fell these trees - according to any official figure in Brazil - is to make way to create new pastures for cattle. Countless herds are grazing on land that was once rainforest. I put it to the Minister that this is the uncomfortable truth. I ask him not to tell me that these political leaders are committed and pledged to the Paris Agreement because it means absolutely nothing to them.

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