Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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438. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the call for a loss and damage financing facility at COP27; the Government's view in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54677/22]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The issue of climate-induced loss and damage is a key priority for Ireland’s climate diplomacy and financing. Climate change has a disproportionate impact on people living in the least developed countries and in small island developing states. Many communities in developing countries are already facing serious losses and damage as a result of climate change and, for some, this represents an existential threat.

In line with Ireland’s Policy for International Development, A Better World, we are committed to focusing on the furthest behind first. In climate terms, this means a focus on the needs of those most affected and most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Through the Climate Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs , Ireland plays a key role in the EU team working on loss and damage in UNFCCC climate negotiations, progressing discussions on the need to scale up climate finance to the Least Developed Countries. The specific request to create a new finance facility for loss and damage was raised by developing countries in the context of the UNFCCC negotiations at COP26.

Ireland’s position is that there is an urgent need to scale up and improve access to climate finance to avert, minimise and address the loss and damage faced by people in countries most vulnerable to climate change. In scaling up the global response, finance must be designed in a way that acknowledges the cyclical, repetitive nature of climate shocks, and enables responses to both rapid-onset and slow-onset climate disasters in a way that meets the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable communities. We are open to feasible options to increase finance, including new funding arrangements where needed, and look forward to an inclusive and analytical decision-making process to find the best approach.

The Glasgow Dialogue, which was established at COP26 to discuss funding arrangements on this issue, is key to identifying the most efficient and effective way to respond. Scaled-up finance will require quick and agile finance flows, based on equity and human rights, which requires us to bring experience from humanitarian and development assistance. Ireland is committed to participating fully in, and informing, the Glasgow Dialogue. The Department of Foreign Affairs has proactively engaged civil society, humanitarian actors, women, youth and indigenous peoples to influence the Dialogue, facilitating analytical work and designing possible solutions in advance of COP27.

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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439. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that the European Union does not revert fully to unsustainable environmental practices such as fossil-fuel dependence or agricultural practices that could destroy biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54678/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The European Green Deal is the European Commission’s overarching plan to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, while boosting the competitiveness of European industry and ensuring a just transition for the regions and workers affected. Ireland fully supports the ambition set out in the European Green Deal and its aim to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. We welcome the increased ambition to deliver net zero greenhouse gas emissions at EU level by 2050 and increasing the EU-wide emissions reduction target to at least 55% by 2030. Ireland is a high-ambition member state in the area of climate action and we are fully committed to a clean and environmentally sensitive approach.