Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)

It feels like I may as well be talking to the wall. We are nowhere near reaching our targets. It does not feel like the Government really understands the consequences of that. The Minister is talking about the huge amount of work on offshore wind but the reality is we generated more energy from wind 20 years ago. The climate crisis could not be more serious, and it is very obvious that it is not being taken seriously by this Government. There are no new ideas or no meaningful attempt to address it. There is absolutely no ambition. Climate action could be an enormous opportunity for Ireland. We could be leading the way. We could be developing offshore wind potential and become a net exporter of energy. We could be held up as the example of sustainable agriculture and food security.

Instead, it is business as usual. There has been no action on offshore wind. The Government is trying to hang on to the nitrates derogation for dear life and, predictably, we are about to miss our emission targets again. Target after target is being missed. You would have to wonder what is the actual point of Government targets, whether for housing, spinal surgery, emissions, you name it. They only exist in the Government's PR strategies. The Government's clear pattern is to promise everything, do nothing and then blame everybody else. Will the Minister please tell me what the Government is going to do to turn this around? Take responsibility and tell us what the Government is going to do to meet its emission targets.

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