Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, is very welcome. First, I put on record my thanks to Senator O'Loughlin and the full team for their work in putting together this report. Human beings have a tendency during times of relative peace to forget that our democracy is constantly under threat but now, across Europe, we cannot forget that. It is very much in our face. That is why it is really important to have the summit at this time.

The Council of Europe continues to do its work, regardless. Having this rights-based focus, that is constantly observing democracy is hugely important. Some of the greatest contributions to the European Union have come from the Council of Europe. I refer to the establishment of the European Court of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights, and what I will speak about shortly, which is environmental protection as well. It is quite right to say the very foundation of the Council of Europe was about democracy, but that has broadened over time as that is not the only threat we face. One of the greatest threats we face is a threat to the environment.

It is important to point out that the Irish Council for Civil Liberties has said it is not about just the decisions made, but it is also about the implementation. That is where we come to Russia, Türkiye, and a lot of other countries that are adding to our concern around the rule of law and the lack of implementation of decisions that come from the court. When it comes to the environment, I wish to point out, for those who are not aware, that this year the Swiss Senior Women for Climate Protection made history with the first ever climate case to be heard before the European Court of Human Rights. This is a real stepping up of Europe, but it is also asking us in our individual countries to step up too. One of the areas of which we could take note is education. I very much respect all my colleagues, but I think it is fair to say the environment does not get mentioned a hell of a lot when we talk about the Council of Europe and what is going on in Europe generally, even though it is the greatest threat facing us. We need to talk about education. It was a recommendation from the Council of Europe that we have education for sustainable development. It is encouraging member states to incorporate that into their education systems because it is only by educating us that we can come to the table as legislators and policymakers after we leave school and put environment front and centre.

I very much welcome the Minister for Education’s announcement that climate action and sustainable development as a new subject will be ready for fifth year students in some schools. It is a pilot, but it is a positive first step. We need to see it introduced as a junior certificate subject across the board and in primary schools because it is the greatest problem facing our children and they must be ready for the world in which they are growing up. I think we are going to see more and more of the work of the Council of Europe focused in this area. Of course, when it comes to peace and Ukraine, that is a central focus for us, but let us not forget the other things that are central to us as human beings, namely, our very survival. I ask the Minister of State and the representatives who go to the Council of Europe to bring up this on every possible occasion because it is our obligation, and it is central to the work of the council. I ask for it to be brought to Reykjavik as well.