Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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1449. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the national climate change dialogue will commence; his plans to start the dialogue after the Citizens' Assembly has concluded its deliberations on the topic of how the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37893/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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I was pleased to announce earlier this year that the Government was establishing a National Dialogue on Climate Action. This is in line with the commitment set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government. I subsequently announced, alongside my publication of the National Mitigation Plan on 19 July last, the establishment of an Advisory Group to provide me with advice in relation to the overall strategy, structure and operation of the National Dialogue.  The Advisory Group held its first meeting in July.

The primary objective of the National Dialogue will be to ensure an inclusive process of engagement and consensus building across society towards enabling the transformation to a low carbon and climate-resilient future. To do this, the Dialogue will seek to create awareness, engagement and motivation to act (locally, regionally and nationally) in relation to the challenges presented by climate change and to establish, on a long-term basis, appropriate networks for people to meet periodically to consider evidence-based inputs on the economic, social, behavioural, environmental and public aspects of climate and energy policy.

National Dialogue initiatives already announced for 2017 include the Green Schools National Climate Change Action and Awareness Programme, incorporating Climate Action Week between 16 and 20 October and the Green Schools Climate Expo on 22 February 2018, and the Climate Ambassador Programme which is scheduled to be formally launched later this month.

I understand that the Citizens' Assembly will meet at the end of this month and again in November to consider the topic of how the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change and that these sessions will be informed by a public consultation which took place in August. As part of its work, the Assembly will be also asked to consider how the National Dialogue on Climate Action should engage with the wider public to create awareness, engagement and motivation to act in relation to the challenges of climate change. I expect that this will provide a valuable base of evidence and ideas from which to draw on in the preparation of further activities under the National Dialogue in the coming months, including proposals for regional gatherings and local community conversations incorporating innovative consultation mechanisms.