Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, I was on the picket line with Irish Rail workers. I listened to their frustration over the lack of proper engagement by management in this industrial dispute. As we are heading towards Christmas, we may be looking at further days lost in the workplace due to the lack of proper engagement by management. I also spoke to many commuters across the city who spent hours in traffic delays yesterday. Many of them came into work late and lost part of their salaries at a time when they can least afford it. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is more interested in finding a solution for North Korea than finding one for our capital city and country. I listened to workers in Cork on “Morning Ireland” who had to club together to get the taxi fare to get home because trains were not running. It is unacceptable that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has more interest in - and less influence over - what happens in North Korea. I hope the Leader can put a rocket under the Minister to encourage him to pay attention to his brief.

At the weekend the Citizens' Assembly met on climate change, an issue I raise frequently in the House. The two line Ministers responsible are the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, and, unfortunately, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross. We see a growing carbon footprint in the transport sector but no solutions coming from the Minister.

At his earliest convenience, will the Leader arrange a debate on and all-party approach to climate change? Obviously, transport is one major element of this. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport's contributions on climate change in this House have been poor. Will the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, also attend as the Minister with direct responsibility for this area? The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine also has a large responsibility in this area because the agricultural sector contributes significantly to carbon emissions. I recognise the farming community has, in many ways, endeavoured to reduce its carbon footprint.

We need a whole-of-government approach to climate change. Unfortunately, Ireland is well behind the curve. While the previous Government made great progress with climate change legislation - the Leader himself contributed to this - nothing has happened since. We have seen public consultation after public consultation but no plan or direction. We will miss the 2020 targets, meaning we will be looking at fines of over €500 million. That money would be far better invested in our transport infrastructure and agricultural sector to reduce our carbon emissions. I look forward to that debate at the earliest convenience which the Leader can arrange.