Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On Tuesday, EU leaders hailed an agreement on the Covid recovery package and the multi-annual financial framework. However, what slipped under the radar was the slashing of the just transition fund and an undermining of its implementation. The flagship just transition fund was promoted by the EU and was set up to start help carbon intensive economies ditch fossil fuels. On Tuesday, its total budget fell from almost €40 billion to €17.5 billion.

A just transition has to be central to climate action. We have to be able to ensure that for those most directly affected by policy decisions, a carbon neutral future will offer them decent working conditions and a living wage. Instead, on Tuesday what we have said to those workers is that when the going gets tough, projections for their future are the low-hanging fruit that can be cut. We have also sent out a worrying message to the international community on collective climate action.

EU countries that have not committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 will still be able to access 50% of the funds available. Fundamental to international climate action is the need for every country to play its part. The EU is in a unique position to be a climate leader, yet with this deal we have facilitated a two-tier approach to ambition. I welcome the decision to increase the funding committed to climate policies from 25% to 30% of the budget but there is no guarantee that the other 70% will not undermine climate action and fossil fuel subsidies have not been ruled out.The European Court of Auditors has issued more than one warning about the need for climate spending to be backed up by robust tracking and performance indicators.

I hope that when the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment comes before this House again, he can reassure us that affected workers in Ireland will be guaranteed a just transition and that he will work at EU Council level to ensure all EU policies are climate-proofed. There is no point investing 30% of a budget in climate action while the other 70% is simultaneously undoing those efforts.