Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is hard to follow the speeches that have been made because they encapsulated everything I am going to say. I am going to be political in what I say because we are politicians, if anyone needs to be reminded of that. As Senator Boyhan said, a hell of lot of people were here this morning to speak up about the farmers, and rightly so because their concerns are important. We are, however, now talking about just transition and the concerns enunciated by trade unions across the country and it is a different Chamber.

I will speak to Sinn Féin amendment No. 15, which seeks to define "just transition" as meaning "the bringing together of workers, communities, employers and government in social dialogue to drive the concrete plans, policies and investments needed for a fast and fair transformation to a low carbon economy and to ensure that employment and jobs in the new economy are as decent and as well-paid as those left behind". What is it in that statement that is potentially causing the Minister a problem? Surely that wording is something to which all of us could and should sign up. The amendment seeks to include a definition of "just transition". To be direct with the Minister, it is outrageous that the Bill does not contain a definition already. The original Bill brought forward last autumn lacked a single mention of just transition. The version now before Members mentions it but does not define what it actually means. It is very telling of what the Government's approach to just transition is, namely, merely lip service.

The Minister has indicated there will be stand-alone legislation dealing with the just transition separately. This appears to be putting the cart before the horse. The just transition should be at the heart of climate action, not just an afterthought. This is where successive Governments have failed time and again. They have left people behind. Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party have opted, all too comfortably, for punitive measures which hurt the most vulnerable in our society. As a result, for the vast majority of ordinary families, climate action is associated with cost. This climate Bill must not be blind to the concerns of local communities. We need a just transition and this amendment and others we are proposing will seek to do that.

I will speak again briefly about another Sinn Féin amendment, amendment No. 16, which sets out just transition principles that are taken from the Scottish Act. If they are good enough for the people of Scotland, why on earth are they not good enough for the people here at home? The amendment states:

‘just transition principles’ are the importance of taking action to reduce net emissions of greenhouse gases in a way which—

(a) supports environmentally and socially sustainable jobs,

(b) supports low-carbon investment and infrastructure,

(c) develops and maintains social consensus through engagement with workers, trade unions, communities, non-governmental organisations, representatives of the interests of business and industry and such other persons as the Minister considers appropriate,

(d) creates decent, fair and high-value work in a way which does not negatively affect the current workforce and overall economy, [and]

(e) contributes to resource efficient and sustainable economic approaches which help to address inequality and poverty.

What is it about the wording of the Scottish legislation that the Minister objects to? Why does he disagree with its inclusion in this Bill? As a proud trade unionist, I must say that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and SIPTU in particular, are hugely disappointed with the lack of attention given to the issue of just transition. It stands in contrast and, to be frank with the Minister, it seems to be a blind spot for the Green Party. The party does not seem to listen to the needs of working people through their trade unions and constantly misses their input. The party has an opportunity to take a different stance today. I invite, encourage and implore the Minister to support these amendments.