Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline the commitments he will seek from international counterparts at COP27, with particular reference to climate ambition, climate finance, loss and damage, and fossil fuel non-proliferation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55345/22]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister outline the commitments he will seek from international counterparts at COP27, with particular reference to climate ambition, climate finance, loss and damage, and fossil fuel non-proliferation? Will he make a statement on the matter?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I look forward to a comprehensive and balanced outcome from COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh. I appreciate the value of having a self-described "African COP" to continue progress made at COP26 on key issues such as climate finance, loss and damage, adaptation and delivering greater ambition. Together with my EU colleagues, I am committed to working with parties to enhance collective ambition across mitigation, adaptation and finance within this critical decade for climate action and in line with the best available science. I support the call made in the Glasgow Climate Pact for all parties to adopt ambitious national declared contributions, recognising these are key mechanisms to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Scaling up climate finance for climate resilience and addressing climate-induced loss and damage will be two core issues. Loss and damage is a key priority for Ireland, and I am keen to see finance scaled up for loss and damage in ways that meet the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. I also support calls for improved accessibility, quality and transparency of adaptation finance, particularly for the least developed countries and small island developing states.

I support measures to enable sustainable, climate-resilient development through the use of clean and renewable energy sources. Ireland is committed to accelerating the shift from fossil fuel dependence and has ceased issuing new licences for oil and gas exploration. As Ireland is a member of the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance, I will promote and support measures at international level which avoid locking in further long-term fossil fuel consumption.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister might clarify the point about new licences. It was reported that a licence was issued or extended last week. I ask him to pick up on the concern about the potential of the Energy Charter Treaty and the comeback that energy companies might have.

The question I wanted to raise, however, is about climate finance and the commitment to €225 million per annum from 2025. What is the commitment for 2022? We heard at a meeting of the Committee on Environment and Climate Action that the best estimate for Ireland's fair share, as opposed to the target that is there, is between €475 million and €545 million per year. Does the Minister agree with that figure?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The issue of the Energy Charter Treaty is under consideration, I think, across European countries. There is due to be a meeting in Mongolia, I think, in the coming weeks. A lot of concern has been expressed, rightly, about the need to make sure the Energy Charter Treaty and every other international treaty stitches in the Paris Agreement and delivers and supports that. I do not think that has any bearing - it has not in any way, as far as I have seen - on the issue of our ending of oil and gas exploration licences. I do not think it has ever threatened or influenced a decision in that regard at all one way or the other. Such decisions were always made in such a way that we recognised that those existing licences would not be revoked. The decision to which the Deputy referred - Europa, I think, is the name of the field - was a routine extension of the licence conditions that already existed. As a State, we do not go back on contracts or revoke our agreements. That decision is a continuation of the current and correct policy.

Climate finance is key. We made that commitment. It takes time to ramp up. The figure in the latest budget was €120 million, if my memory serves me correctly. That will accelerate significantly to meet the €225 million target in 2025. I do not know the basis for the Deputy's figure as to what our fair share is. If he could forward me the reference to that, I would find that useful.

I will make one or two points about the defensive approach the Irish State has taken. First, our climate finance is not tied to any other conditions.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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You are over time, Minister.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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We tend to make very good quality contributions, but we do need to increase the finance, and it will rise to the €225 million promised.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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We had a very helpful and informative session at the Committee on Environment and Climate Action, which is what prompted me to ask a number of these questions. The issue of the quality and quantity of climate finance was raised and, as the Minister said, Ireland was commended on the quality, but it was said the quantity is a different story. I will be happy to send those figures from Christian Aid and Trócaire to the Minister.

Regarding Ireland's requirement to submit its long-term strategy to the European Commission, has this been done with regard to setting out a plan to 2050? What about the commitment to a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty? Will the Minister try to advance this at COP27?

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The latter issue is connected to our membership of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance. We know the science. If all the known reserves let alone new resources or reserves are used, it would send us beyond a critical tipping point. As a result, we must join with other countries in starting to restrict supply in order to keep coal, oil and gas in the ground. What was the first part of the Deputy's question?

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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It was about a long-term strategy.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Under climate law, we are due to present our climate action plan and our long-term strategy in the coming weeks. One obviously influences and complements the other. That will inform the same approach we have with the European Commission in terms of our contribution. Europe brings our nationally determined contribution to the climate talks as a common approach. We will make our contribution to the European effort and it will be backed up by our long-term strategy, which is also required under our climate law.