Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 14, inclusive, together.

The climate action unit in the Department of the Taoiseach seeks to co-ordinate and drive climate action across all Departments by assisting the work of the Cabinet committee on the environment and climate change and associated senior official groups. The Department also provides secretariat to the climate action delivery board, which is composed of the Secretaries General of those Departments that have core responsibilities in ensuring that the Government’s climate objectives are met. This board oversees the implementation of the climate action plan and acts as a forum for identifying solutions to any challenges or obstacles impeding delivery. The board meets quarterly. It last met in February and is due to meet again in the coming weeks.

The Department also monitors implementation of actions agreed as part of the climate action plan. Each quarter it reports to the Government on progress under the climate action plan and these reports are published on the Department's website. The Department also chairs several interdepartmental groups in the areas of climate research and modelling, climate communications and EU climate policy developments. It also assists the climate action units that have been established in each Department.

Bringing down our greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonising our economy and protecting ourselves from the impacts of climate change must be the preoccupation of all Departments. The programme of change we have embarked upon will be transformational in so many ways. All sectors of our economy and all parts of society will be affected and must be involved in this system change. Opportunities abound and doubtless there will be further challenges ahead but it is in all of our interests that we move quickly and with resolve to play our full part in this shared national and, indeed, global endeavour.

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