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

As the Senators are already aware, GNI is a semi-State public body and its shares are 100% controlled by Government Ministers. Because of this, it is subject to the same criteria as other State bodies regarding its climate obligations. In particular, GNI is listed as a relevant body under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015, as amended by the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. The term "relevant body" includes a public body which is defined by reference to the Freedom of Information Act 2014, which GNI is subject to and will continue to be subject to with the passage of this Bill. Because it is a relevant body, GNI performs its function in a manner consistent with the most recent approved climate action plan; consistent with the most recent approved long-term national climate action strategy; consistent with most recent approved national adaptation framework and approval sectoral adaptation plans and consistent with the furtherance of the national climate objective and the objective of mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change in the State. I thank the Senators for their suggested additions and I appreciate the intention of these amendments. However, it is proposed to reject them as the Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023 is a technical Bill that solely provides for the integration of Ervia into GNI and is not the appropriate mechanism to review the functions of GNI in relation to national climate policy.