Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is no surprise that the publication of the annual transition report comes 18 months after the statutory deadline before which the Minister, Deputy Ryan, was due to deliver it. It is no surprise because the three Government parties, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, have met none of the climate targets they set. Unfortunately, the Government is following a familiar trajectory. To give some examples, the 2020 report that we are debating today refers to an afforestation target of 8,000 ha every year until 2030. In fact, since this Government took office with a Green Party Minister of State at the helm of afforestation policy, the Government has overseen a 42% reduction in afforestation. We reach about 25% of the targets. The Minister keeps telling us we have turned a corner. Even since the beginning of this year, the very soft forestry licensing targets that have been set have been missed almost the entire time.

It is also the case for organics. The EU average for organics stood at 7.5% in 2017 and a target of 25% has been set for 2030, but this Government has decided on a target of 7.5% conversion by 2025, which it has pushed out to 2027. The only stated objective on climate action that this Government has been able to implement is to continuously increase carbon taxes at a time when ordinary workers, families, communities, businesses and farmers are absolutely begging for support.

We have a Government that, instead of implementing measures to assist us all in achieving our climate targets, is continuously attacking ordinary communities which have no option but to use those things, for which they are charged. It is not good enough. A sea change in attitude is needed. We need to recognise that if we are to meet our ambitious climate action targets, there needs to be leadership at Government level. That leadership has unfortunately been lacking far too often.

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