Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The just translation concept was conceived to assist counties and communities most affected by the move from fossil fuels to transition in a just manner to other forms of energy generation and other means of employment where generational employment had ended. Last year Sinn Féin sought to define a just transition and just translation principles and to ensure that Government adhered to them when preparing climate action plans and carbon budgets. The Minister rejected our amendments and the amendments of others to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill which would have improved this very week definition of a just transition. We wanted accountability. We wanted Government to explain how proposals and policies would affect different sectors, households, communities and regions and the ways in which Government would support them in transitioning. It was an entirely pragmatic and reasonable approach but was rejected outright.

To date my constituents in Longford-Westmeath tell me that their experience of just transition has been overwhelmingly negative. While extraordinary sacrifices have been made by the communities across the midlands, to date this has not been matched by support and services from Government or State agencies in a way that reflects a true just transition. That is why towns such as Lanesborough in Longford and others like it experienced unprecedented levels of anxiety like never before when it became clear there was no sign of the jobs lost being replaced with any form of meaningful quality employment opportunities for those workers most affected.

A truly just transition can protect and create jobs, and also protect and restore biodiversity and generate sustainable resilient communities. Job losses are not the automatic outcome of moving to greener energy. That comes from bad planning and poor policy decisions during the transition process. There must be proactive engagement and structured dialogue. Key planning indicators need to be established and met. That is key to a just transition process. However, for some inexplicable and inexcusable reason that has been absent to date. That simply is not good enough for communities most affected by the transition to greener energy. They must be the priority for a meaningful just transition. Areas like those in my constituency cannot simply be left behind or be told if not in words definitely in actions to simply suck it up.

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