Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have every plan and intention and as you said it is a legally binding target. That is why a debate in this House would be timely on that. While I accept we have a gap to close, any fair analysis of the EPA report would show that we are now on track to reduce emissions by almost 30%. Prior to this Government, we were increasing our emissions by 10% a year. To the credit of sectors of the economy, society and the public sector, we are now in a position whereby we are on track to very significantly reduce emissions. We have a climate tipping point. This is not something that will happen in the future. We need to get to 51%. It is our legal requirement to get 51% and we will work across this House on that. We can come back to some of these issues during the debate as I dot not have time now, but we are taking, and proposing to take, a number of actions that will bring that figure beyond 29% or 30%. We are very eager to engage with the Opposition on how we get to 51%.

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