Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The overarching goal we are trying to achieve in transferring functions is to ensure all the responsibility to reduce emissions does not remain with a single Minister. Climate change and emissions reduction are not considered to be solely the responsibility of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. That is why we are transferring functions and saying to all Ministers they have responsibility for the sectoral emissions ceilings in their area. We are saying they cannot just continue with their normal policies and say the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications should find some way to reduce emissions within their particular sector. That is why the Minister for Transport, for example, will have powers around the biofuel mix and so on. That is the overall goal.

Did the Senator request a briefing from the Department?