Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Government is great at setting targets and disgraceful at delivering them. It is nearly December and we are still waiting for the climate action progress report for quarter 3. When will that report be published? In mid-October, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, advised it would be delivered shortly. More than a month later, there is still no update on how Ireland is addressing climate change. Will the report be delivered this side of Christmas?

According to the Climate Change Advisory Council, 49.3% of the 2021-25 carbon budget has been used in the first two years and we are on track to exhaust 123% of the allocated budget by 2030. By refusing to depart from its business-as-usual approach, the Government will almost certainly max out the 2025 carbon budget before it has left office. Budget 2024 reaffirms that position. According to a report by Eurostat, Ireland lags way behind our European counterparts. When it comes to reducing emissions, we are the worst performer in the EU.

The RESS 3 auction cleared the lowest amount of renewables to date at the highest price. Is it any wonder that our electricity sector is in fact the worst performing of all sectors? Despite the announcement of solar panels for schools announced by the Government more than one year ago in budget 2023, not one school has been fitted with a solar panel and nor are there any details of the scheme. Will the Taoiseach admit that this Government is setting Ireland on a path to certain climate failure?

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