Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is not just an economy we need, it is a society. That comes with spending on the arts and sport, as well as on education and health.

I want to welcome the three new Ministers named today. To Deputy Peter Burke in enterprise, if you talk to your predecessor, Deputy Coveney, and to your Secretary General, they will say it is clear, certain and true that the future economy has to be green. The foreign direct investment that raises so many of the taxes and other benefits for this country is also equally going green. Those responsible for that investment will want a Government that is heading in that direction, and we are.

Next week, I will ask my Department to talk to the Opposition Deputies from Waterford, Cork and Wexford. We will set out a Government-led designated maritime area plan where we tap into offshore wind that can provide us with sustainable aviation fuels, fertilisers and power a digital industry that is zero carbon. That is where the enterprise sector economy is going.

I wish the Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, the very best of luck. His is a critical Ministry, one that has been superbly led in the past four years. He will need to talk to the Secretary General, and what he will confirm is that things in universities have to be green. That is centre stage in that Department's strategy and philosophy. If we keep going with that, we will have the young people on our side and we will serve their interests.

I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, the very best of luck in her new roles in the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Defence. I back what the Tánaiste has said. One of the reasons we are strong and that our voice is listened to in the world is because we have been absolutely united as a Government on some of the key issues of our time. We have stood up, as we have today, for the recognition of Palestine. We provided critical information for the International Criminal Court when a case had to be taken. We were the first to increase funding for UNWRA when others were withdrawing it.

The way we have such strength and are listened to on an international stage is by talking to our Green colleagues in other European governments and the rest of the world. People know our approach is based on certain values and a true and real intent to be multilateral out there in the world and to stand up for the rights of other nations. That is what we are going to do for the next 11 months in government. We will then go back to the people.

The European Union has said we need to have a 90% reduction in emissions in 16 years' time. I would love to know the plans of the other parties for a 90% reduction in emissions. That is what we need to do to protect our people. It would be good for the economy and provide jobs for young people in the future. I can share my view on that tomorrow, but we need every party to agree to that because things will not work if we divide on climate. If that happens, our world burns.

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