Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Any emergency Bill needs to exist within the context of the climate emergency. High-profile figures in the oil industry have spoken about their bumper years and infinite future. Once there are emergencies that cause demand, they will be happy to go forever. They are looking at brand new oil fields around the world even though we know we need to keep oil in the ground.

In any emergency, we should look to the calculation and intersection of multiple risks. It is appropriate that information be available when we are considering an oil emergency and that we do not pretend the oil is just floating in space. Or, rather, we should acknowledge that we are on a planet that is floating in space and recognise that decisions made in respect of oil stocks and their usage are not just supply and demand decisions, but decisions on intersecting and, in some cases, contrary risks. Having more information on the activities of oil companies in the State - and, indeed, those companies' knowledge that they simply do not have to wait for the next emergency or the next big demand surge to make the kind of bumper profits they have made in recent years - would be appropriate. We should be looking for it.

I am disappointed by the general lack of desire, not just from the Minister of State now, but from the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, when the NORA legislation was before the Seanad in 2020. There was a reluctance to strengthen our powers, to increase transparency in any way or to put anyone with environmental expertise on NORA’s board. If we are serious about the climate change challenge, I do not know why we are not trying to address it in every forum and with every tool at our disposal.