Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This amendment amends section 15 on page 13. The amendment is being undertaken following discussions between my Department and the Office of the Attorney General. It was determined that an amendment to section 15 of the Bill by way of Committee Stage amendment would be appropriate in order to clarify the basis on which the Minister may support climate action projects. The aim of the amendment is to provide legal clarity beyond any doubt in support of the intent of the Bill that it will be possible for the Minister to provide funding for climate action projects by way of either a competitive process or a non-competitive allocation. Therefore, it will not be mandatory for the Minister to conduct a competitive project-selection process prior to supporting a climate project through the Climate Action Fund.

Clarification of this matter in the Bill is important because there may be climate-related projects or investments that are not economic or commercial by nature and therefore may not be applicable for consideration by way of, or successful under, a competitive selection process. This amendment will provide the necessary certainty that the fund can support such non-commercial projects as applicable. This follows on from our previous discussion.