Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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589. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views that climate change is the single most pressing issue for humanity, which will impact on every single aspect of our society and economy; that it is a major mis-step at this time to have effectively abolished the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in the new Administration and that, notwithstanding recent reassurances, this suggests to the public that environmental issues will be downgraded; that if he is genuine about joined-up thinking he must reorganise Departments with a view to setting up a Department of environment, climate change and natural heritage, which would have a remit to deal effectively with pressing environmental issues, such as loss of biodiversity and with water quality and supply; and if he will give a commitment that the correct urgency will be attached to the priorities of his Ministers concerned with environmental matters, and that they will not be seen as an add on or be relegated in the pursuit of corporate or business interests. [14525/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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A range of functions currently undertaken by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will transfer into my Department in the coming weeks and the Department will be renamed the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to reflect this.  In addition to its current functions, my Department will assume responsibility for the following sections from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government:

- Environment Policy & Awareness;

- Climate Policy;

- EU and International Environmental Policy;

- Waste Policy & Resource Efficiency;

- Air Quality/Environmental Radiation Policy;

- Environment Advisory Unit.

There is no question of the environment or climate action being deprioritised by the Government. In fact, the Programme for Government sets out a clear vision and comprehensive set of policies and measures for addressing our national, EU and international climate change obligations. Assigning the leadership role in relation to climate action in a visible way to a specific Ministry, which also has responsibility for the energy and environment briefs, elevates the importance that the Government attaches to this issue and brings greater coherence to its management. Cross-Government management of climate and environmental issues will be addressed bilaterally with other Government Departments, through the relevant Cabinet Committees and at Cabinet when necessary.

I look forward to engaging actively on this agenda.