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

I am not sure of which Minister I am asking this question now that the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has left. Instead of the sharp drop that is needed, current global commitments will see greenhouse gas emissions rise by 2030. Even if countries implement their current commitments, the world is on track to heat by between 2.5°C and 2.9°C. The UN state of the cryosphere report tells us we cannot negotiate with the melting point of ice. In this awful context, many of us have been disheartened by the coverage of what has been emerging from COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, and the presence of so many oil lobbyists, a great deal of spin and, indeed, fake news about the impact of fossil fuels. I wanted to ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, how the Government proposes to reduce emissions in the construction sector, in particular, in this context, while also ramping up the necessary building of homes and infrastructure. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, may respond to the point.

I recently met representatives of the Irish branch of Architects Declare, a group of architects who are part of a global movement to ensure more sustainable building methods. Has the Minister engaged with that group? How does the Government intend to implement more environmental concerns in planning law?

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