Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

We have had two very worrying reports in the past two days. Yesterday, the EPA reported on our possible failure to meet our emissions targets. Today, it is reported that the application for a liquefied natural gas, LNG, facility at Shannon will progress to An Bord Pleanála. These reports highlight fatal flaws in the Government's climate policy and, indeed, the climate Bill. It is Government policy, apparently, not to support the importation of fracked gas, but it refuses to legislate to ban LNG projects, saying we have to wait for the European Union to take a stand. In the meantime, powerful fossil fuel interests proceed with their plans in this country. The Green Party at least, and perhaps the Taoiseach's party as well, will never be forgiven if LNG facilities are built in this State when the Government had a chance to ban them.

The EPA report yesterday also notes that the ludicrous target of having 1 million electric vehicles in use by 2030 will not be met. That target is unrealistic and is not the correct response to the climate crisis. Instead, we need to focus on free, frequent public transport throughout the country. It is an absolute fantasy that we can meet a target of 1 million electric vehicles in nine years. It is also undesirable. Will the Taoiseach comment on that?

See this speech in context