Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

I have a simple question. Does the Government have any intention of meeting the 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030? Did it ever intend to do it? Was it just something to give to the Greens to say there was a target, before the Government then said to the data centres, big tech companies and big agribusiness not to worry because we do not actually intend to meet these targets? As Deputy Smith pointed out, the EPA has indicated how we are miles off target. In the best case scenario, if the Government does the things it has promised to do, we are heading for a less than 30% reduction, rather than a 51% reduction. An Taisce has pointed out that it is even worse because of a basic maths issue and the carry-on effect of stuff not being done until now not being taken into account in the EPA's calculations. Professor John Sweeney said, "The reality of the current emissions trajectory toward the end of 2025 means a carbon budget overshoot to be removed from the 2026-30 budget [is] so significant it will be much more difficult for the next Government to stay within the legal requirement." He continued, ""This means that highly effective emergency course-correction measures must be immediately enacted by the present Government to limit the overshoot." What measures does the Government have in mind?

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