Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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8. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the Climate Action Advisory Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6096/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Section 8 of the Climate and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 established the Climate Change Advisory Council. The Council, which is independent in the performance of its functions, provides advice to Government in respect of climate matters. The outgoing Council’s substantial body of work has included advising Government on climate policy development, assessing progress towards Ireland’s climate objectives, producing a statutory Periodic Review and Report and Annual Reviews, and participation in the 2018 Citizens’ Assembly on how the State can make Ireland a leader in tackling climate change. In view of the statutory five-year term of the current Council expiring; the need to facilitate the smooth functioning of the Council, including its intended mandate to propose carbon budgets under the Bill; and the need to ensure relevant deadlines relating to the development of carbon budgets as set out in the Bill are met, I have made the following initial appointments as members of the new Climate Change Advisory Council:

- Ms. Marie Donnelly, Chairperson

- Professor John FitzGerald, Ordinary Member

- Professor Ottmar Edenhofer, Ordinary Member

- Professor Peter Thorne, Ordinary Member

I also intend to appoint additional members shortly, taking account of the provisions of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill. Further appointments will include experts in relation to biodiversity, just transition, sustainable transport, and climate communications, amongst other areas of experience.

The existing four ex-officio members of the Council, the Director General of the EPA, the Chief Executive Officer of SEAI, the Director of Teagasc, and the Director of the ESRI, will remain in place on the Council pending the passage of the Bill.