Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. As he knows, the director general of the EPA said it is hard to see how emissions will fall this year. I think a former head of the CCAC said they will likely increase. This is at a time we are in the second year of a carbon budget where we are supposed to see a 4.8% annual average reduction. I do not take any satisfaction from saying this but there is a real possibility that, as a Green Party Minister with responsibility for the environment, Deputy Ryan will preside over our missing every emissions reduction target in his tenure. The approach taken by Government is incremental. It is based on carbon tax which, regardless of one's position on it, is in itself incremental. Does he see an alternative, better way to finance this transition that reflects the urgency that is needed?

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