Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister focusing on this issue. Yesterday we got a stark warning from David Attenborough on climate change when he said that civilisation is now nearing collapse. It was one of the starkest statements I have heard from anybody. He has outlined exactly how serious the situation is.

Ireland can only contribute so much to the whole issue, but bigger countries such as the United States, China and India must come up and do their bit as well. It is most regrettable that the President of America, Donald Trump, would decide to pull out of the Paris Accord. I notice that a former Governor of California has criticised the President and said that most of the other 50 states of the United States are doing their bit. They said that Washington would not control what they do in each state. I was very encouraged that the individual states of the United States are active in climate change and very conscious of the situation.

I compliment the work of Oisín Coughlan of Stop Climate Chaos. He has made very good submissions to the Minister, including a letter he wrote the other day outlining his current concerns. It concerns people when the Taoiseach, with respect, said we were laggards. If the Taoiseach is not very happy with the situation, he could actually do something about it and grasp the nettle.

We in Fianna Fáil are very conscious of the situation and we are fully committed to tackling climate change and to ensure that Ireland meets its obligations. We fully accept the findings of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Its report finds that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require a rapid and far-reaching transition in land, energy, industry, building, transport and cities. This action needs to be taken within 12 months. Despite this the Government is failing to meet its targets. We will not meet our 2020 targets, nor are we on target to hit 2030 or even 2050 commitments.

The failure to meet these targets will have consequences. Short-term compliance costs to try to close the gap are now likely to be in excess of €100 million. Ireland will also be exposed to significant penalties post 2020. The Government has failed to introduce an increased carbon tax in this year's budget. This will require more drastic increases in coming years. A number of actions should be taken next year in order to put Ireland on the correct course.

Instead of committing to completing a plan as announced by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the Government should set about implementing the recommendations of the cross-party committee first. The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 should be amended to include setting specific targets for the reduction of emissions. Fianna Fáil has tabled a Bill to achieve this. Carbon tax should be increased with the funds raised used to protect communities in which the impact of such attacks would be worst felt. The tax should also be invested in meeting targets.

I will not go through each Ministry. Regarding agriculture the whole course of environmental work is very important. The more trees we grow the better. Every farmer should be encouraged to grow a number of trees. We have an organic farm and my wife has been pushing the idea of growing more trees, particularly broadleaf trees, on the land. If everyone did that, it would be a move in the right direction. These are simple steps that can mean a lot.

I was very encouraged when in recent days a major restaurant chain in London decided not to import avocados from Australia because of the transport cost of bringing that fruit from Australia, even though it is a beautiful fruit. We have to get real in this case and we must reduce the costs. We should provide more horticultural products in this country. It is a shame and a scandal that we import potatoes from Italy and Cyprus, and import cabbages from different parts of the world. All those products can and should be produced here. North Dublin, Wexford and other areas are pretty good at that. The Minister needs to provide more incentives and encouragement. The major supermarkets, Aldi, Lidl, Dunnes Stores, Tesco and SuperValu, should be lobbied to ensure they source their foods in this country where possible.

One implication of Brexit is that when the United Kingdom leaves and then decides to have negotiations with Argentina and Brazil, it will bring in steers from America into the United Kingdom when they can be sourced here, next door in the Republic of Ireland.On renewable energy, more action is needed to provide offshore wind turbines. These are operational in Denmark and many other parts of the world but for some reason, even though significant wind is generated off our shores, that option is not being pushed. I ask the Minister to respond to that. Furthermore, proposals to cover vast areas of land with solar panels are questionable at best. Will the Department provide grant aid and subsidies to developers of solar farms or would it be better to use that land to grow trees or other renewable combustible materials?

Whether we like it, a large power plant is in operation in Moneypoint, County Clare, which is burning fuel imported from Columbia. We have to live with that and while I acknowledge that jobs are involved here, an alternative fuel must be found for that plant. I would like the plant to continue in operation but I would like the material burnt there to be produced in Ireland or at least as close as possible.

I congratulate the Minister on his appointment and wish him well with his new responsibilities. I know that he has read into the brief and am confident, on the basis of his ministerial record to date, that he will give this his very best. He is an experienced Minister and I am sure he will give this issue the attention it deserves.