Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The draft text of the climate action and low carbon development (amendment) Bill was published on 7 October and referred for pre-legislative scrutiny at that time. Those proceedings provide a welcome opportunity for detailed examination and debate on the text of the Bill by members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Action and by witnesses. The committee commenced pre-legislative scrutiny on 14 October and I understand it is ongoing.

I have followed proceedings and note that a number of witnesses have attended to date from a range of backgrounds and provided valuable evidence. I understand these proceedings are to conclude shortly. This is an important element of the legislative process and I look forward to considering any report prepared by the committee as soon as it is available. In this regard I expect to be in a position, subject to further consideration and having sight of the committee's report, to take on certain recommendations from the committee ahead of commencing the legislative process in the Oireachtas. While the Bill remains priority legislation for the Government, I will await the outcome of this pre-legislative scrutiny before finalising its content.

I appreciate and think useful the work that is being done in the committee. I believe it will bring real results in improving the legislation before we go into the full legislative process.

See this speech in context