Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)

I thank everybody for their contributions this evening. It is a very important issue and debate. I take the Minister of State's point in relation to the current commission and the work it is doing. I understand that the Government is afraid that legislating for this now may distract from its current work programme but I ask that the Minister of State or the Minister go and discuss this with the commission. When we look at its first report, it is very clear about what needs to be seen. This is a really positive message when it comes to just transition. According to the commission: "A just transition offers a powerful opportunity, not only to manage the risks of the climate transition but to reimagine and reshape Ireland’s economy and society to be more inclusive, resilient and sustainable." That is from the Just Transition Commission's press release about its first report. It also says that Ireland must move much faster. So, the Government's fears about taking this too fast are misplaced. The commission says:

Ireland must now move much faster and with much more ambition if we are to keep the people and places we care about safe from the effects of climate change, and to seize the unprecedented opportunity that a just transition offers to build a fairer, more inclusive, and resilient society.

It also made the point that Ireland's approach since 2021 has been piecemeal and reactive, rather than a whole-of-society approach and that the just transition framework the Minister of State spoke about is in place but is not being utilised. It is very clear that just transition must be embedded structurally and that is what I am attempting to do with the Bill. The Bill would embed it in the legislative framework so that it is in place going forward and is not reliant on a favourable Government or Minister. Rather, it would work for the people across the country. It would be consistent, clear and cannot be removed at the whim of any Minister or Government.

The first report rings an alarm bell. It states that the current approach leaves Ireland on a trajectory towards an unjust transition. While I can understand the rationale that the work is ongoing, and we do not want to slow that down or distract from it, what the commission has said is different. From what I have read in its report, its reaction is different. I ask that before we vote on the Bill the Minister of State discusses this with the commission. The just transition commission would appreciate having that legislative framework available to it.

The Government has put a 12-month timeframe on the latest few Bills that have gone through the Dáil. I would be okay with that. It would be a much better result than plainly saying "No" to the Bill. I ask the Government consider putting in place a 12-month timeline and using that 12-month period to work with the commission and ensure that the Bill or principle of just transition and the commission are put on a statutory basis. That is what we need to see.

The risk of not getting this transition right cannot be understated. Ireland is not immune to this. Many countries have been torn apart and societies and communities fight each other when it comes to the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss and the approach of Governments to managing it. It is important that we are very strategic and proactive in how we deal with this so that we provide supports before people are afraid and start thinking that they are being left behind. When people feel like they are being left behind, that is when the trouble will start.

I ask the Minister of State to speak to the Minister and ask him whether he would consider putting in place a 12-month timeframe. That would be a welcome result. I ask the Government to not say a blanket "No" to this; it is too important.

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