Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I echo the comments made by our party spokesperson on climate action, Deputy O'Rourke. Sinn Féin believes in more than just tackling climate change. We believe in a just transition to a sustainable, cleaner and better future life for all of us. We believe climate action can and must be achieved without penalising the most vulnerable in society.

It is amazing that after two and a half years in power, the Green Party has done little for those who are most at risk of harm or to tackle the behaviour of those who are causing the most harm to our environment. The average billionaire has a carbon footprint that is a million times greater than that of the poorest person, according to Oxfam. The top 1% are responsible for about 20% of global emissions. In July, it was reported that the US rapper Travis Scott had been flown in his private jet from Dublin to Clare, a two-and-a-half-hour drive. Unfortunately, there is no public transport option despite two and a half years of the Green Party being in government. In fact, the most recent figures pre-Covid, from 2019, show that 9,000 private jets flew into Irish airports, equating to 16 jets a day or one every hour and a half. Private jets emit up to 14 times more carbon than a commercial aeroplane. Flying a private jet from Dublin to Cork emits 2.2 tonnes of carbon, or the average output of a three-bedroom home in six months, yet after two and a half years in government, the Green Party still has not considered a single measure to tackle these private jets. Do not worry, however, because every time ordinary people turn on their lights or stoves or put petrol or diesel in their car to go to work or to take their children to school, they pay tax.

The rapper Travis Scott once stated, “All I got is myself.” It is lucky for him that the Green Party is in power, keeping him, other millionaires and billionaires safe from climate taxes every ordinary person has to pay.

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