Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Taoiseach is aware, I and many other Opposition Deputies have raised the issue of the Minister, Deputy Ryan's, controversial appointments to the Climate Change Advisory Council. I wish to raise these matters again today in the hope the Taoiseach will address our specific concerns. As the Taoiseach is aware, the Government rejected a Sinn Féin amendment to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill last year that would have brought the appointments process to the advisory council in line with other public bodies. Specifically, our amendment was based on the process of appointments to the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Like his Minister, the Taoiseach has yet to explain why he continues to oppose an open and transparent system of appointments to the advisory council. This is a serious matter. The manner in which these appointments were made flies in the face of public administration norms and undermines the important work of eminently qualified people. The Taoiseach argues the appointments follow the letter of the law, but he does not acknowledge that his Government, which drafted the legislative provision, enabled the Minister to appoint party members as advisers in the first place. This is particularly relevant as the same legislation provides for the advisory council's significantly enhanced oversight functions. These are valid questions by the Opposition. Rather than play the man, surely the Taoiseach should now play the ball and explain why he and his Government opposes an open and transparent process of appointments to the Climate Change Advisory Council.

See this speech in context