Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We in the Labour Party have always sought to support any constructive and progressive measures on climate advanced by the Government. Equally, we are hugely critical of the fact that the Government has missed targets. There is a lack of urgency to tackle this worrying rise in emissions from Ireland. This is happening at a time of record budget surpluses. The Government has a unique opportunity to invest that money in housing infrastructure, for sure, but also in climate infrastructure. Instead, there has been a lack of urgency and a delay. As I said, the auction for offshore wind last week, the first of its kind, was welcome. However, it is disappointing to see delays in the roll-out of floating terminal wind generation capacity. The future of offshore wind lies in being able to develop both floating and fixed platforms and yet we are seeing no urgency from Government. This is a time when we should be seeing massive investment by the Government in the development of public transport infrastructure, cycling and active infrastructure. During National Bike Week, there should have been a big announcement on such infrastructure. We are not seeing that investment. I appeal to the Tánaiste to take up the constructive proposals we are putting forward that would enable us to meet our climate targets and would tackle this worrying rise in emissions.

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