Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support the call made for an invitation to be issued to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, to discuss the climate action plan. It is by far the most significant environmental and climate action document the country has ever seen. Much of it arises from our growing awareness of the impact of human behaviour on the environment and climate change, as well as the need to change not just to reduce carbon emissions but also to safeguard water quality and biodiversity. In many ways I am disappointed to hear some of the commentary on the plan that is nothing short of reckless and hypocritical coming from some of those in the Opposition. The plan recognises that every sector, including how we live in and heat our homes, our modes of transport and the agriculture and construction industries, must come under scrutiny. It is not just about climate change as we must also be sustainable. We are dependent on fossil fuels from volatile countries that may be at war with one another because of oil, coal and all the rest. This is our opportunity to make a change. If the critics of the plan look at it, they will see an entire section on transition. It acknowledges that it will not be easy and that sectors of society may be hit very hard. It notes, however, that people should not be crucified. Clearly there is an appetite among the public, especially young people, to address the matter. It is a clarion call to politicians to tease out the matters surrounding transition but not to knock a plan that will require individual Departments to be responsible and have carbon budgets that they will not be able to hive off as somebody else's responsibility. Everybody will have to consider how he or she will make this country a better place. If we are clever, we will invest in the bioeconomy and the business possibilities for economic growth such as research and development of wave energy or electric vehicles. We should look at anything that might provide a new way of living that will not be dependent on fossil fuels, which is how we have enjoyed our lifestyles for the past 100 years or since oil and the internal combustion engine were discovered. There is both a great challenge and an opportunity. I hope that is where the debate will start, rather than the charge that we are attacking rural Ireland or doing this or that to somebody else. Everybody is in this together. We must only look around to see the impact it will have on the climate, water quality, biodiversity and everything else. We should face up to the matter.