Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I want to focus and concentrate in my contribution to the debate tonight on the role of the Green Party in this Government and what we intend doing in the next two years. I do so remembering, critically, two and a half years ago when we joined the Government and agreed a programme for Government, that the leader of the European Green Party, whose assessment would be well informed because we are in government in many countries in Europe, said that our programme for Government was the greenest programme that they had seen. Greens are not in government except in Europe and, therefore, we are at the centre of the green transition. They said it was the most extensive, most ambitious green programme that any Green party in government had promised to try and deliver.

In recent weeks when it came to discussion about ministerial places, we were clear in saying we want to retain the positions we have because I believe our Ministers are working effectively, are delivering and can do much good for the country in the next two years. It takes two and a half years even to learn the ropes of how a Department works and how the system works. My colleagues have done that and they now have to focus on using that experience to deliver. I want to set out some of the various aspects of the work that we have to do.

First, on climate, I listened with respect to Deputies Bacik, Paul Murphy and others who raised the issue of concern which I share that our climate emissions are still rising. Reading it in the media today, it is fair commentary. It is a concern. At a time when we need to be reducing them by approximately 5% per annum, last year they increased by that amount. That has to turn around. That will turn around.

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