Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The piece that is crystal clear is the proposing by the advisory council but the approval is subject to amendment by the Minister or the Government, which is the problem. It is why I have proposed and there should be clear interim targets in the Bill that stand alone. The political commitment should be there and as an agreed point it should be in the law. Instead, as part of the muddying of the waters, there is the process involving the advisory council. It is meant to be an independent body and I hope the advisory council is free to propose more ambitious targets, as referred to in my amendment No. 70. The 51% target might be politically achievable and negotiated but the advisory council is meant to be driven by science and other factors that could be considered.

There should be an independent advisory council and a very specific target. My amendment No. 70 deals with this specific target of 51% rather than "at least" 51%. We are not even leaving it the scope to propose a more ambitious target. That goes to the Minister, who may amend it, and then it goes to the Government, which might amend it. I hope they do not amend it and it would be politically toxic for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to try to amend, reduce or dilute the target. I want to be clear on that. Nevertheless, we would be bouncing something back to the Cabinet when we should be nailing it in law. That is the problem.