Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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119. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which he will justify the continuing use of the public finances to incentivise the unabated exploration and extraction of fossil fuels in view of the declaration of climate emergency and as emissions continue to rise; and the ratio between the €3 billion and the public investment in proven clean energy generating technologies. [48322/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am not aware of public finances being used to incentivise the exploration and extraction of fossil fuels and the Government has taken a leading role on a global level in ending new exploration.

On taking office as Minister, I made effective immediately the Programme for Government commitment to end the issuing of new licences for the exploration and extraction of gas on the same basis as the decision taken in 2019 by the previous Government in relation to oil exploration and extraction. 

My Department is no longer accepting new applications for exploration licences for natural gas or oil, nor will there be any future licensing rounds in Closed areas. 

The recent legislative amendments to the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960 made through the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 have now provided a statutory underpinning to the Programme for Government commitment.