Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

First, I join in the very warm congratulations to Senator Clonan. There were so many incredibly strong candidates and we watched such an interesting debate. Senator Clonan arrived into this House at a very timely moment because we have a special committee for the duration of this Oireachtas where we are particularly tasked with examining the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I am very confident Senator Clonan will be able to bring constructive and important insights and perspectives into that debate. That is a very important task that cuts across everything, from participation in culture – full participation was one of the issues mentioned today - to independent living and home adaptation. So many of the issues we have spoken about today on the Order of Business affect people with a disability as well, but they face additional obstacles and challenges in respect of it. That is the task we face in ensuring the UN convention is fully implemented. I warmly look forward to the contribution our new Senator will make in that, as well as on many other issues.

Unfortunately, on this first Order of Business, I hate potentially to have to divide the House, but I need to propose an amendment to the Order of Business. With much disappointment I have to propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that No. 2 on the Order Paper, the motion regarding carbon budgets, would not be taken today but would be taken at a later point pending the publication of the public consultation on the carbon budgets.

In December, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications launched this public consultation and called on the public for input on the carbon budgets. In the briefing we received, we were told the Minister, in making his decisions and proposals on the carbon budgets, would be informed by the climate committee report and the public consultation. Yet, what is put before the House today is the many-paged technical report the Climate Change Advisory Council, CCAC, published in October last year, with no sign of there having been consideration of any of the detailed proposals put forward by the climate committee, and, indeed, absolutely no evidence of the public consultation and how, for example, the Minister has weighed up or considered the public consultation.

When the Minister came to the House on 15 February, he said he wanted to inspire people. We have had many opinions about what individuals should be doing in terms of climate change. I do not criticise that, because there are many things we can do. Much of the advice in respect of energy and driving at an environmentally friendly speed is sensible. However, the public also needs to see that the Government takes it extremely seriously and that, for example, the Minister has weighed up their concerns and ideas. I know that many in the public, for example, looked for stronger carbon budgets, because the ones as proposed for this next period of time are at 5.7% reductions per year, far short of the 7% required. Indeed, again, the Minister is of course empowered, in putting forward the carbon budgets, to consider new scientific information. Just yesterday, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, informed us that we have 30 months in which to act.In that context, the Minister should publish the public consultation, show respect to the public and its rights under the Aarhus Convention on environmental decision-making and review the proposed budgets in light of the very worrying scientific information. My colleague will second my proposal in due course.