Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I say this with no disrespect to her - I appreciate she came in to read the statement - but it is deeply disappointing that Ireland will continue to push ahead with the reform process that is going nowhere. Japan is not for moving and change requires unanimity. The European Commission's proposals, which are supported by the EU Council, meaning that our Minister would have been part of those proposals, do not address Article 16 of the Energy Charter Treaty, which clearly states that irrespective of other international agreements to which a country may be party, including the Paris agreement, the provisions of the treaty, if they are more favourable to the investor, are the provisions that must apply. When it comes to intra-EU disputes, arbitration has dismissed those rulings. Brexit presents an opportunity for investors to set up in Britain and bypass the intra-EU process. Every minute that we spend on a modernisation process, which does not even address the systemic issues in the Energy Charter Treaty, is a minute that is wasted and lost to climate action. I appeal to the Government to show the leadership we need on climate action and to leave the treaty.