Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I hate to detract from a very good story but the Bill allows for the granting of petroleum prospecting licences under sections 20(2), 20(3) and 20(4) and for the granting of petroleum leases under sections 20(3) and 20(4). These provisions do not exist in the principal Act and are not existing commitments. They provide for situations where the State can grant new things if there has been previous engagement. Section 20(6) refers to existing commitments but sections 20(2), 20(3) and 20(4) are about granting new things. Let us be clear, there is provisions for the granting of new licences, and this is very unfortunate. It is also unfortunate that the Minister has not taken on board any of my safety nets or caveats. The simple thing to say would be that we will not allow something that works against the climate Bill. Why not say that? That is regrettable and it is not acceptable.

When we talk about political responsibility, it is not acceptable to hope that the market, through companies not receiving funding or getting investors, will sort out the problem. That is not adequate. We are here to create legislation and find legislative solutions, to do everything we can to create the parameters within which the market works, instead of hoping that the worst does not happen. Down the line, if investment comes to one of these potential licensing areas and if oil and gas is discovered, will we then say there is nothing we can do because it is under way? We can do better and we should do better.

I am conscious the debate is about to end. The last part of this Bill refers to the Electricity Supply Board. We are authorising them to borrow €12 billion from the market. There is no safety net to ensure that there are no expectations construed or potential liabilities for the State. We do not know what story the Electricity Supply Board will tell those investors and what expectations they, in turn, will have.

Of course, today is a good day in that we will pass this climate Bill. I salute many members of the Minister's party, as well as those in the much wider climate movement, who have done work to bring this Bill forward. Let us be clear, this has not been a situation of simply battling against naysayers and coming through with exactly what was wanted. There has been a lot of compromising and I believe there has been too much. We could have fought harder and won something more robust to be put in the law.I regret that the progressive amendments to strengthen the Bill have not been accepted, while welcoming the positive measures in the Bill. There will be a number of areas where we will have to battle in the future and I wish more had been done to strengthen it, introduce safety nets, avoid hostages to fortune and remove loopholes. This is a good starting point but, because we are starting so late, we should have started stronger. I thank the Minister.