Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, concluded there is a massive gap between the target of cutting emissions by 51% by 2030 and the actions needed to deliver on it. Even in the unlikely event that every measure in the climate policy and climate action plan is acted upon, emissions will fall by only 28% by 2030, just over half of this supposedly legally binding target. Let us be clear: even if all the Minister's current plans are successful, they will still result in only half of what is required. The next eight years are the most significant if we are to prevent the worst impacts of climate change and give future generations some hope, but now we learn the Minister's plans are wholly inadequate. It is clear that the climate action plan and carbon budgets need to be changed radically. Is the Minister willing to do this? More important, are his partners in government willing to take the necessary action?

See this speech in context