Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I think we will disagree on that. It is not strong. It allows for actions that are inconsistent. If the Minister wanted to use the language of progressive realisation, he could have used that language, such as "Each Minister shall make all best reasonable efforts to be consistent with", for example.That would be a possible phrasing and I will reserve the right to introduce that phrasing on the next Stage. It could be a matter on which a Minister would be required to make all reasonable efforts to be consistent with the climate objectives. At present, the Minister must be consistent with them "as far as practicable". It may well not be practicable. As the Minister noted, there are many groups and interests. It may not be practicable if the IFA does not want the Minister to do something and there is an election in a year's time. That is the concern. I will not go into the many examples of what people might do. It is one thing to have grinding slow progress but what I am trying to protect against, and why I am concerned, is that we could see a slipping backwards. The provision allows for this. It allows a Minister to perform a policy that may, in fact, increase our emissions in a way that will be inconsistent with the carbon budget, or to take an action or step in the wrong direction. That is the concern. There is a lot of other legal language to choose from, including, I strongly suggest, "make best reasonable efforts". That might be a better phrase. I am a little concerned specifically about the attachment of this to "consistent with".