Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas, a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I dtús báire ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire agus comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis as an bpost nua atá aige. Táim an-sásta é a fheiceáil sa Roinn Cumarsáide, Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide agus Comhshaoil agus tá a fhios agam go ndéanfaidh sé an-jab dúinn ag am atá an-tábhachtach ar fad dár gcomhshaol anseo.

I welcome this tremendously important Bill. If I have one criticism, it is that the Title disguises what the legislation is actually doing. I echo Senator Pauline O’Reilly's point that we are now embarking on a new phase in dealing with the climate action crisis. We are building on the work done by the previous Government and the provisions put in place in the last budget. Work was also done by the joint Oireachtas committee on increasing the carbon tax in acknowledgment that this is an expensive problem which can only be solved with the contribution of the economy. The suggestion is that we are merely amending the National Oil Reserves Agency Act, although I accept the Title says more than that. That suggestion takes away from the impetus the Bill gives the Government and the State to deal with the issue that arises.

I also agree with Senator Higgins that the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007 was passed in a totally different time. Attitudes were completely different, as were the economic situation and the approach to carbon fuels. Perhaps the name of the agency should be changed to refer to the national energy reserves agency because it must go beyond safeguarding access to carbon fuels and ensuring Ireland’s energy security.

To respond to Senator Moynihan’s comments about electric cars, in the context of energy security one of the great aspects of having a greater fleet of electric cars is that it also creates a reserve for electricity generated through wind power, for example. While I agree with the Senator's point on the danger of merely replacing current cars with electric cars, that would have a major benefit and not only in reducing emissions. If we are to move towards renewable forms of energy generation by increasing wind and wave power, that does not stop when night falls and cars come off the road. Energy generated overnight can be stored in the batteries of those cars in the driveways of houses and the car parks of apartment blocks. That is a very important feature of having a fleet of electric cars. Energy generated overnight is stored in those cars and used again during the day in circumstances where we as a nation do not have the capacity to absorb the renewable energy generated overnight because we do not have batteries large enough to do so. To say we should simply not invest in electric cars is slightly short-sighted because it does not acknowledge the important role these vehicles have in providing a battery for the State.

To respond to Senator Boylan's comments on aviation fuel, it is important to recognise that the Bill does not have a role in this regard. I do not dispute that there are major issues with aviation fuel and emissions but we must also recognise that, as an island nation, we are very dependent on aviation in a way that our continental colleagues in Europe are not. We have to be very careful about being the cheerleaders for measures on aviation fuel that will make the provision of goods on this island much more expensive, which would have a massive knock-on economic effect. We must think about that very carefully. I want to address some of the issues in the Bill, specifically the provision in terms of commencement. I know that when the 2007 Act passed, it was commenced almost immediately, but this is emergency legislation and is going through this House in what can fairly be described as a rushed fashion. Other Senators have expressed reservations in recent weeks about the fact that we are going through all Stages of the Bill and I agree with that, but I also recognise the urgency of this provision. Will the Minister confirm that these provisions will be commenced almost immediately? The power is in the Minister's hands and I would be anxious that there would not be any delay in commencing them. In passing this Bill, the Oireachtas is handing that power over to the Minister rather than requiring that it would commence on its passing.

The Bill has been described as technical. There is an awful lot of amendment in it, and the Bill, apart from the newly inserted sections such as 37A and 37B etc., is mostly amending the principal Act. I wonder if there is room, as we move into this new phase that has already been described, to talk about having consolidating legislation in this regard. It is difficult for the ordinary person to access a document like this, which is long but essentially refers to another document. I wonder if consideration will be given in the future, given that the 2007 Act has already been amended twice, to more consolidated legislation that would make it clear for people.

On section 15, which creates a new section 37B, there is a provision in subsection 6 of that for financial accounts from the fund, as well as a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General on same, to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas, and I welcome that. Would there also be room for the Minister to provide a report on the expenditure and operation of the climate action fund to give greater clarity and transparency to Members and the public in respect of how this money is generated and spent?