Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I agree with everything the Deputy is saying but it is very important these questions are put not just to the Minister for the environment, Deputy Ryan. He is not alone in being responsible for dealing with all of these problems. That is why there are sectoral plans that are allocated to each of the relevant Ministers. For example, there is an agriculture, forestry and seafood plan for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. There is one for biodiversity which is with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Then, as I said, flood risk comes under the OPW. The effects on health come under the Department of Health and effects on transport come under the Minister for Transport, who is also the Minister for the environment. It is important we do not allocate all the environmental problems in the country to the Minister for the environment and that we have a whole-of-government solution. That is why there are allocated Ministers in each of these sections. I encourage the Deputy to put the question to those relevant Ministers to see what they are doing to satisfy and complete their sectoral adaptation plans to make sure they are taking responsibility for their share of the problem.

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