Ivana Bacik (Independent)

There is no need to delay in order to introduce a watered-down climate change Bill of this nature. The Minister of State and Green Party Senators should note there is no need to delay the essential general election any further.

I said on the last occasion that we would support the Bill, albeit with criticisms. One of our key criticisms concerns the unconscionable delay of the Government in introducing it. We support the Bill, despite our criticism that it is weaker than the Bill introduced by Deputy McManus and weaker than the recommendations made by the the Joint Committee on Climate Change.

On the issue of delay, had the Bill been introduced sooner, there would have been more time to engage in transparent consultation and achieve a buy-in by key stakeholders. Fine Gael has also raised this point. I agree with it to the extent that it is a real shame that the Government did not take the opportunity to engage more meaningfully with groups such as the IFA. I met representatives of the IFA, as have many Senators. The IFA has informed me that it is very concerned about the lack of consultation. I understand its representatives met the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, on 21 December, just two days before the Bill was published. We all know the consultation period is not due to end until after the debates on the Bill have taken place, that is, the end of January. It is most unfortunate, therefore, that there was not more time at an earlier stage to engage in open consultation. At the same time, the delay in introducing the legislation has meant there have been backroom negotiations to dilute the provisions of the Bill and make it weaker than the commitment given in the programme for Government. I would like to hear the Minister of State's response on the effect of the delay.

The IFA has genuine concerns about the lack of support for those farmers who are seeking to diversify into renewables and the production of bio-fuels. If the Government is serious about tackling emissions in the agriculture sector, it needs to offer support. Such support is sorely lacking.