Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The European state of the climate report states that 16,365 people died in Europe last year as a result of meteorological, hydrological and climate-related hazards and that a further 156,000 people were adversely affected in a direct way by these hazards. Meanwhile, every EU country is expected to submit a draft energy plan by 30 June, which is in nine days. We are told Ireland will miss the deadline. It is not the first deadline the Government has missed on these issues. It hardly inspires confidence that the environment is a serious priority for the Government. The EPA now tells us that this State is set to miss its target of a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 by a country mile. This is a very poor performance indeed. In the context of what this means for people's lives and well-being, would the Taoiseach not say the Government is falling disgracefully short of the targets it has set for itself?

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