Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister to the House. It is clear from listening to him that he undoubtedly has an amazing enthusiasm and expertise in this area. I shall focus on 2019 but I was not expecting an outlay of what is happening in the future and that is exciting. We were invited in here today to discuss the 2019 annual transition statement and welcome the comments made by a clearly enthusiastic Minister.

What has changed since 2019? We have had a significant general election that provide there was massive support for the environmental nature of politics. Fair play to the Green Party for reaping the benefits and took the brave decision to enter Government. Now that party is at the table and its feet are under the table. Therefore, the party has a unique period of possibly four and half years to deliver what the Minister said he would set out. In the last two years there has been a huge international focus on climate change, the international agenda of the environmental movement because this issue is larger than a green narrative. The Minister has talked about sustainability, having a fairer deal and the significance of the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. I support all of those environmental policies. In fairness to the Minister, he put his finger on it when he said that we must bring the people with us. We must dumb it all down, simplify things and explain to people the real benefits of cleaner water, better mixed forestry, and of having softer, kinder and unified synergies with the environment. I do not doubt that there is anyone who does not support all of that.

The Minister mentioned 2019 and Deputy Richard Bruton. I acknowledge that Deputy Bruton did a very good jobs under difficult circumstances. The whole political shift has moved one since 2019 thanks to the Minister present and many others. Let us consider that the 2019 annual transition statement stated: "The first progress report of the Board was launched on 31 October 2019 and shows that 85%, of the 149 action items due for delivery in Quarter 2 and 3 have been delivered." They might not be big action items but such progress is important.

As the Minister knows well, one of the big things for 2019 was the climate action charter agreed by the 31 local authorities, a copy of which I have in front of me. Significantly, every one of the 31 local authorities signed the charter that consisted of a few pages. I ask him to return to his office and consider the good things about the charter, and what has happened. I have spoken to councillors who have voiced their belief that it will be difficult to deliver some of the aspects of the charter. Who are the champions of the charter among the local authorities? We need to assist them in championing this very significant charter. Every local authority recognised the needs in the charter. All of the signatories acknowledge that a whole-of-government approach is essential in addressing climate change.In this document reference is made to green procurement, which is extremely important, and to which the Minister is committed. That was in the 2019 document. In the context of green procurement, there are issues we must address as it feeds into something else. The Minister might take a look at Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement. I contacted a number local authorities about it and they did not know anything about it, yet there is a note included advising how it was to be distributed. The Minister might consider that circular in the context of how we can drive the agenda for green procurement in line with the targets and objectives set down in 2019.

I want to focus briefly on agriculture. I am a member of the Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Marine and was elected on the agricultural panel. I recognise the importance of what the Minister said about the food chain, climate action change, environmental care, preserving our landscapes and environments and supporting generational renewal, all of which are key objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy. Much of this is central in European politics and policy.It relates to how we can have vibrant rural areas. Senator Garvey spoke about dispersement and enlivened and vibrant rural communities. That all ties into the vision the Minister outlined. Crucially important to that is our food and health quality. Our health is linked to our food and vice versa. That is an important factor. It relates back to the point that we must ensure there is equal and fair opportunity and fair income. We must address the issue of a just transition in its broadest sense. What is happening in the midlands in terms of the bogs and so on is fantastic. The big challenge for us is to dumb it all down and make it simple. Everyone wants to be part of this and to take this journey with the Minister and the Government.It is critically important. The Minister's party is one of the three elements of the Government to drive it. I believe the Minister will drive it. We are lucky to have him as the Minister with overall responsibility for this area because of his experience, vision and network across the country. He has enormous integrity and knowledge of this area. I wish him well. It is important we explain this issue and bring everyone on board with us on this journey.