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

We are heading for disaster. We are still heading for disaster after COP28. The Minister knows that. In the text are all of these references to low-carbon fuels and carbon capture and storage, which are all premised on this illusion of technology coming to save us that is not coming. That is the oil and gas corporations lulling the world to sleep by saying we will have progress and not to worry, we do not need radical change in our societies and economies which the science says we absolutely do. That is the need for the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty. It is for states to come together to say they commit to not having fossil fuels. That then creates a space for movements to build pressure in other states to say they should sign up to that.

When I asked the Taoiseach about this before Christmas, he said he knew nothing about the treaty. I hope the Minister has since discussed it with him, explained what it is about and given his personal support for it. There is no treaty to sign, but that means this is a good space for Ireland to say to the small island states appealing for this that we are committed to this idea, we want to develop this fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty and we want to contribute to it. Ireland should take the lead instead of fudging and saying we are listening and having discussions. We need clarity. We need to say we are in favour of this and then help to shape it.

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