Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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2. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the environment and climate change will next meet. [19935/21]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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3. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the environment and climate change last met; and when it will next meet. [20475/21]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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4. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the environment and climate change last met; and when it will next meet. [21774/21]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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5. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on environment and climate change will meet next. [21822/21]

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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6. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on environment and climate change last met; and when it will next meet. [21880/21]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on the environment and climate change last met on 1 April 2021 and is scheduled to meet again on 10 May 2021. It is chaired by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The committee oversees the implementation of the ambitious programme for Government commitments on the environment and climate change. These commitments are reflected in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021 which is progressing through the legislative process.

The committee also oversees the implementation of the current climate action plan and the interim climate actions for 2021, as well as the work which is now underway to develop an updated climate action plan. The committee also considers other aspects environmental policy such as, for example, investment in water services and water quality.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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There are a number of speakers. We will begin with Deputy Duncan Smith.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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I want to raise with the Taoiseach the just transition. There has been strong, understandable and righteous criticism of the weakness of references to a just transition in the draft climate Bill. We hope we can amend and strengthen that on Committee and subsequent Stages.

There is little faith that it will be strengthened. I want to highlight what happened in Lough Boora last week. A local man, Pat Barrett, built up a bike rental business over the past decade. A contract has now been awarded to a Dublin company by Bord na Móna. A just transition, if it is to work and to be believed, needs to ensure local people have decent, fair and sustainable jobs. In the midlands, Bord na Móna, which has been the focal point of discussion regarding the just transition for the past couple of years, has awarded a contract to a Dublin-based company when a local company had been built from the ground up and was doing the work. How can the Taoiseach expect people in the midlands or anywhere else in the country to believe the Government is committed to a just transition when we see such things happening in places like Lough Boora?

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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The programme for Government contains 19 separate references and commitments to a just transition, yet when the climate Bill was published last October there was not a single reference to this critical provision in it. During pre-legislative scrutiny of the draft Bill, the Joint Committee on Climate Action recommended that the Bill include a definition of a just transition. Members went so far as to propose wording.

Legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament in 2019 included a section dedicated to just transition principles. It committed to reducing emissions in a manner that supports environmentally and socially sustainable jobs, supporting low-carbon investment in infrastructure, developing social consensus through engagement, and creating decent, fair and high-value work. Instead of listening to the committee or learning from other jurisdictions, the Government's revised legislation includes a single and very underwhelming reference to a just transition underpinned by caveats and with no definition or, indeed, guiding principles.

There is still time for party leaders to correct this significant shortfall. Will the Taoiseach work with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and the Tánaiste to strengthen the just transition provision so that, at a minimum, it reflects the commitments contained within the programme for Government and the recommendations of the joint committee?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Irish Wildlife Trust, IWT, recently issued a very stark warning about the biodiversity crisis, which is often forgotten in the context of the equally urgent crisis of climate change. It is very important for us to remember that biodiversity collapse could spell the end of our ability to live on this planet.

One of the areas the IWT pointed to was the critical importance of the marine environment. It, like many other organisations, is deeply concerned about the ramming through of the marine planning framework and the rubber-stamping of what is essentially the grabbing of very sensitive marine sites, such as the Kish Bank and the Codling Bank off the east coast and other parts of the country, by private companies. It is concerned these decisions would be rubber-stamped despite the potential implications for biodiversity, marine life and, of course, fishermen when we talk about a just transition.

I want appeal once again to the Taoiseach to allow for proper scrutiny of the marine planning framework to take place before the vote next week. There should also be no question of there being a rubber-stamping of licences for private companies for sensitive areas off the east coast and other areas before there is a framework and law to govern the proper planning and development of the marine environment.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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According to the EU emissions trading system, data-related emissions from large companies that fall under the scheme have increased 50-fold in the past seven years. This is at a time when the Government's climate Bill is supposed to reduce our emissions by 51% by 2030.

Despite this, it was reported at the weekend that two State agencies, the ESB and Coillte, are proposing to partner with tech companies to build even more new data centres, alongside wind farms, on Coillte land. It is intended to finance the billion euro investment needed by the wind farms which will clearly absorb a large proportion of the extra electricity provided, negating any emissions reduction.

According to a July 2020 EirGrid report, the number and scale of large data centres seeking to connect means Ireland's electricity demand is currently expected to grow by circa 38% between 2017 and 2025, equivalent to the growth of 50 years. As a result, data centres will account for 30% of Ireland's entire electricity use by 2028. This will obviously require a major expansion of electricity generation. It is also questionable whether Coillte should proceed with building large commercial infrastructure like data centres on land that is supposed to be reserved for forests.

Does the Taoiseach agree the focus of Coillte should be on regrowing Irish Amazons and not lining the pockets of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos? Will he act to halt the unsustainable growth of power hungry data centres?

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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Massive investment in new ways of generating electricity from renewable sources will be necessary for the transition to a zero-carbon society. Essential to this drive will be investment in the electricity network. ESB network technicians will be key workers, helping to shape the nation's green energy future.

When preparing for battle, a good general will pay particularly close attention to the morale of the troops. Yet, the Government and ESB have consistently pursued policies which almost look like they are designed to undermine the morale of these troops. I am referring to a policy of creeping privatisation, outsourcing work and refusing to consult or deal seriously with the grievances voiced by so many technicians. The result of these policies is yet another ESB strike today.

Will the Taoiseach draw back from his policy of support for privatisation and outsourcing? Will he ensure that the ESB consults in a serious fashion with all of its network technicians?

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Deputy Tóibín wanted to come in on this. He has one minute.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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Strategic lawsuits against public participation, or slap lawsuits, are used against citizens who are trying to ensure that companies do not destroy the environment or break environmental laws. They tie up citizens in terms of money, time and energy. They may not be successful but their job is to silence or chill efforts by citizens to protect their environment. The Aarhus convention states that citizens should not be punished for ensuring that companies respect the law in respect of the environment. Article 3.8 has not been transposed into Irish law which would give protection to Irish citizens. Will the Taoiseach see this is implemented and meet some of the citizens who are being tied up in this manner?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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On the midlands, I understand the Deputy's point on the just transition being designed to provide alternative employment for people in localities that have suffered as a result of the country endeavouring to reach its climate change targets and the closure of certain generating facilities and other activity as a consequence. There is a need to reinvest, particularly in the midlands. I do not have the specifics of the case - Deputy Barry Cowan has raised it also - of a person losing a contract for a good enterprise. Bord na Móna will have to bear in mind the overall objective of the just transition model which is designed to create new enterprises and support existing enterprises that can create new jobs. That is the core objective of the just transition agenda, particularly in the midlands.

Deputy McDonald asked why it is not stronger in the Bill. The transition to a low-carbon future will bring huge changes to society. It will create opportunities as well as challenges. Just transition is a core part of the programme for Government and our climate strategy agenda to provide alternative job opportunities to sectors and regions most effected, particularly protecting vulnerable groups. The Government will invest up to €108 million in the peatlands climate action scheme which will create over 300 jobs and will be delivered by Bord na Móna to rehabilitate 33,000 ha over 80 Bord na Móna bogs. The budget committed funding of just transition measures including €5 million for the rehabilitation and a further €6 million for the transition fund. Under the Bill, the requirement to have a just transition as one of the measures that will guide the Minister and the Government in preparation of the plans and the policies provided for in the Bill. It is in the annual climate action plans provided for that will set out the details. The Deputy should be under no doubt that the just transition is a key aspect in the preparation of the forthcoming climate action plan 2021. There is a range of other projects in the midlands for which funding has been provided particularly in economic, social and environmental sustainability of the wider midlands regions. Some 16 projects with total funding commitments of €1.2 million were approved last autumn and are up and running. Provisional approval for a further 47 projects with an indicative funding commitment of €27.8 million was announced in November. These are more complex, high value projects. The majority are expected to have grant agreements in place in coming weeks. The just transition commissioner continues with his current mandate and will produce a further report this year. The midlands retrofitting programme is on course to finish this year, meaning a minimum of 750 homes will have benefitted. Additional measures will follow on that. That midlands retrofitting pilot project was funded by carbon tax revenues. Under the midlands programme, work will continue under the newly revised energy efficiency programme and €45 million has been allocated to local authorities this year. Under that programme approximately 1,650 additional homes will be upgraded in 2021. We are desirous of accelerating the work in the midlands in particular as a demonstrative model of how we can allocate additional funding to replace employment lost and create new opportunities themselves.

On Deputy Boyd Barrett's point on the marine, biodiversity is critical. It is inextricably linked to the climate crisis. There is no rubber stamping involved in the marine spatial plan, quite the contrary, it provides a proper sustainable framework that will enhance the opportunities for biodiversity at sea. There is no one grabbing any licences under that plan. There will be legislation to come before the House -----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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What about the relevant project?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----which will give a more coherent planning legislative process and mechanisms that will both protect biodiversity and the environment but also enable-----

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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What about the legacy project?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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-----opportunities such as the development based on offshore wind, for example, which is an important part of our renewable strategies.

On the wider issue, Coilte and Bord na Móna are two important State agencies along with the ESB in meeting our climate change agenda.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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We are over time, Taoiseach.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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They will stay as State enterprises. They are not being privatised. Their privatisation is not on the agenda at all. That equally applies to Deputy Barry.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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We are over time.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To Deputy Tóibín, looking at the planning framework in Ireland, there is no evidence that citizens lack any capacity to take on big projects. Individuals object to a whole range of projects. There is a balance here. I will engage with the Deputy further on the points he has raised.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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The Taoiseach might come back.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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For information -----

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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There is no information. This is one thing that is strictly timed. The Taoiseach might return in the next question to answer what he did not answer.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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There are hundreds of ESB network technicians who are waiting for an answer from the Taoiseach and they have heard nothing from him. It is very disappointing.