Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The amendments propose that the climate change advisory council should advise, make recommendations and submit its annual report to the Oireachtas rather than the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. As the latter is responsible under the Bill for putting together both the national mitigation plan and the national adaptation framework, it is appropriate that the advisory council advise and submit its annual reports to him or her rather than to the Oireachtas as a whole. However, the advisory council's annual reports will be published for all to see and if Members want to comment on or debate them, such engagement will be welcome. There will be full transparency in respect of the reports. The amendments, therefore, are unnecessary and we do not propose to support them.