Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This proposed amendment would render the responsibility of providing climate change-related advice by the advisory council to the Oireachtas as a whole rather than to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The fundamental point is that it is the Minister and other members of the Government who are the main actors in and responsible for these matters. Therefore, it is only right and proper that it is to them that the advisory council should direct its advices. The advisory council's annual and periodic review reports will be published for all to see and provide commentary on. In view of this, I cannot support the amendment and ask for its withdrawal.