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

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. This week, as the focus has been on other matters in the news, a hugely significant story has gone relatively unmarked. According to the UN, the first week of July was the hottest week on record globally ever. Indeed, June 2023 has blown away all temperature records for that month. The science is clear. All that we hold dear is threatened by the climate crisis. Unless we as a species choose to live more sustainably, we face extinction.

I refer to the choice to live more sustainably because it is a choice. Political choices are made every day and are what can save us from climate and biodiversity breakdown.

I welcome that just in the past few minutes MEPs have voted to adopt the Nature Restoration Law in the European Parliament and in particular, MEPs voted against the shameful attempts by the European People's Party, the Taoiseach's own political grouping, to force a boycott of the Nature Restoration Law. I welcome the fact that Fine Gael MEPs voted not to block the Nature Restoration Law. We understand from them that they faced down pressure from within the EPP and they have said that they prefer to engage with the process. Their choice is a welcome departure from the very dangerous rhetoric we have seen from their EPP colleagues, and notably the EPP president, Manfred Weber.

I ask the Taoiseach to clarify and confirm his own commitment to the vitally important Nature Restoration Law. Does he condemn the rhetoric of Manfred Weber who is the president of the European People’s Party, the Taoiseach's own party in Europe, and does he agree with the Labour Party’s sister parties and the Party of European Socialists who have really driven the Nature Restoration Law, along with their Green Party colleagues in the green group? They have said that Mr. Weber has engaged in disinformation on the law and has courted the support of the far-right in Europe.

I wanted to seek clarification on another important Government climate policy which relates to just transition and supporting a transition to a low-carbon economy in a way which leaves no one behind. Mary Robinson said at COP 27 that just transition requires a series of just transformations, a rising tide to lift all boats to tackle the inequality and injustice while building a sustainable future.

The Taoiseach's Government has previously committed to establishing a just transition commission to design an inclusive response to the climate and biodiversity crises. Last night, the National Economic and Social Council called for the speedy establishment of the commission and the Taoiseach welcomed that but I understand that there are real concerns that the project to establish this commission has been stalled and, indeed, trade union and civil society representatives have written to the him this week warning against any further delay in establishing the commission. Will the Taoiseach use his powers under the National Economic and Social Development Office Act to set up the just transition commission without delay and will he ensure that it is based on social dialogue in keeping with the International Labour Organization, ILO, just transition principles? We want to see its terms of reference place that emphasis on social dialogue to ensure that the real and meaningful just transition is reached?

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