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CLIMATE ACTION MINISTER Richard Burton has been criticised over a decision to halt the Climate Emergency Measures Bill from progressing, claiming it made “no contribution” to climate action goals.
The bill had passed two separate votes in the Dáil in 2018 and was set to move to the third stage.
If passed it would mean no new licences would be granted for the purpose of oil or gas exploration in Ireland, with a view to reducing carbon emissions – a measure countries like Belize and France have already introduced.
However, the bill was halted from progressing to the next stage after Fine Gael put down a money message, which claims the new legislation would be too costly on the public purse strings.
The Government has insisted that oil and gas resources will be needed in the move towards sustainable economy.
People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith, who has been advocating for the bill in Leinster House, said the move was a show of “the utter hypocrisy of the Government on climate and renders null and void any other measure in the Climate Action Plan”.
In a letter to Bríd Smith, Bruton said the bill “will not reduce Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions, and instead it will ensure that Ireland must import all its fossil fuels… used during the transition to a low-carbon economy”.
He said there would be “financial implications of the proposal” which the bill ignores and states “it does not consider its wider implications on Ireland’s energy policy and security”.
Bruton also added that the current all-of-Government’s Climate Action Plan “sets out the actions which we must take to deliver significant 2030 targets”.
Organisations including Ibec and the Irish Offshore Operators’ Association (IOOA) have welcomed the Government’s decision.
In a statement, Mandy Johnson, CEO of the IOOA said: “Government has recognised that using our own natural resources is not only good for energy security but also good for the environment and jobs.
“There is no realistic scenario under which gas and oil will not be required to contribute a major part of Ireland’s energy supply in the short to medium term.”
Ibec senior executive, Conor Minogue said: “Natural gas is the primary fuel for power generation in Ireland today and it will play a vital role as we transition to zero carbon alternatives and move away from other fossil fuels.”
“Now Ireland can focus on the implementation of the new Climate Action Plan and measures that will actually lead to the decarbonisation of our economy,” he added.
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photo caption should read Seoul, South Korea not Seoul, North Korea
I have booked a pub crawl trip for St Patricks Day 2018 to North Korea (Seriously).
A war would be very inconvenient for my travel plans.
They’re some lads for the parades alright.
How crazy is it that a place like North Korea exists in 2017!!! They obviously do not care about ‘sanctions’- so how do you deal with them?
The same could be said about a lot of Middle Eastern and African countries.
@Martin Flood: I agree. Nobody should be starving or in slavery in 2017.
@Martin Flood: Middle East had oil so that’s why you see a lot of invasions to save the people.
I don’t remember too many invasions of African countries to save the people, probably because they don’t have oil. Rwandan genocide is a prime example.
Fat Boy doesn’t have to worry about sanctions. He and his favoured ones get all the Camembert and Chateau Petrus they want to keep them happy. And everyone else doesn’t care because they wouldn’t be getting any with or without sanctions.
How many Irish ministers are going to North Korea for Paddy’s day?
The problem is China will always back North Korea.
It’s time to remove north korea. Pack of idiots.
@Keith Fay: how do you propose we do this? Without killing 24 million people…
@Keith Fay: We are already killing them slowly with global sanctions. The little fat dear leader isn’t hurt by famine his people are.
@Keith Fay: Good man Keith. You lead the way.
Haha. Nah you’re right they’re grand.
@Andy Wallace:
your right…. the arms embargo on north korea are starving the civilian population
Nuke ‘em. Do it now.
@Kieran Jones: And the fall out? I don’t think Japan and South Korea would appreciate that.
Less not forget North Korea ally – China, one of the world’s most powerful nuclear powers. Even if they don’t retaliate the fall out would effect them as well and they produce a hell of a lot of items for world markets. Fancy your kid playing with a toy from China after the fall out?
@Kieran Jones: Go back to your PlayStation.
@Kieran Jones: Kieran, you do know reality is very different from your XBox world?
Kieran I know how you feel we were all waiting for “Duke Nukem Forever” for like, forever. But the studio says it’ll be done when it’s done, last time I looked. Which was about 2003…Kieran’s clearly still a believer..
If there was ever a case for dropping the big one and wiping out a nation, North Korea must be it
They have legalised cannabis in North Korea!!
have your say