Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

It was not at the cinema but I was watching the Taoiseach over in Sharm El-Sheikh doing his best-boy-in-the-class routine again. While he was trotting out the hype in Egypt, the reality at home is very different. Take the well-being framework for example. The framework monitors 35 indicators of well-being and the 2022 report finds progress in some areas, a neutral, as-you-were situation in others and only one that was negative. Which indicator was negative? It was environment, climate and biodiversity. The report noted Ireland now has the highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita in Europe after Luxembourg and scored poorly on water pollution, etc. Will the Taoiseach accept Governments led by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael that were beholden to big business interests that put profit before the environment have failed, and are failing badly, on these crucial issues?

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