Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am a little frustrated because we had a good debate on this last week. One of the key arguments made by the Government parties - specifically, the Green Party, as I recall - was that it is difficult to find agreement in respect of this issue. We took that argument at its word and the Opposition came together. I give credit to Senator Higgins in that regard because of the initiatives she has taken, and to all the Opposition parties for working constructively to come up with a definition.It is important to note what Senator Higgins said about people working on the coalface from organisations that we all respect such as Trócaire, Oxfam and Christian Aid. They want this definition in the Bill. They are watching the debate this morning. They watched last week when the argument was made that we cannot reach an agreement because it is too difficult to do so. The Opposition, which is a very disparate one, has come together in saying that we can reach an agreement. We have made sure that the wording of that agreement is acceptable. Senator Pauline O'Reilly said earlier that we must be careful not to tie our hands. The wording of amendment No. 4 does not tie our hands. It states:

the decisions and actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the effects of climate change should ... support the people who are most affected by climate change but who have done the least to cause it and are the least equipped to adapt to its effects,... and safeguard the human rights of the most vulnerable persons.

I must be clear on this. There is not a one word in that amendment that anyone in this Chamber could argue with in this regard. However, if there is, and I acknowledge what Senator Higgins said in terms of the Minister's record and commitment on this issue, perhaps he could talk to us about which word or sentence somehow is objectionable.

Senator Garvey said something very important this morning when she said we should all work together on this Bill. That is exactly what we are doing with these amendments. The Opposition parties came together and took on board the objections that were made last week. We came together and agreed a wording that has been endorsed by the most important organisations working on the coalface in this country. I see no reason why the Government will not accept these amendments. Let us be clear on this. Accepting this amendment will not further delay the Bill, because we know some amendments have been accepted already. It is, therefore, not a question of delay. It is certainly not a question of tying our hands because there is nothing in these amendments that ties our hands. Unless, of course, there is an objection to tying our hands in defending the most vulnerable and weak people who have suffered the most with climate change.

The final point is not directly related to these amendments but I will raise it now because I may not get the opportunity again to raise it with the Minister. When we talk about the most vulnerable people in the world right now, we must also talk about vaccine justice. I appeal to him, the next time he sits with his colleagues in government, on behalf of humanity - I say this not on a party basis-----