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Vol. 1006 Thursday, No. 5 6 May 2021 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DÁIL ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) 06/05/2021A00100Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) � � � � � � � 610 06/05/2021N00300Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders’ Questions � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 634 06/05/2021Q00500Topical Issue Matters: Motion � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 643 06/05/2021Q00750Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 644 06/05/2021T01900Thirty-ninth Amendment of the Constitution (Right to Vote at 16) Bill 2021: First Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 652 06/05/2021U00800Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) � � � � � � � 654 06/05/2021JJ00800Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 682 06/05/2021JJ01000Private Security Services (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 683 06/05/2021OO00100Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 690 06/05/2021DDD00050Planning and Development (Amendment) (Repeal of Part V Leasing) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Mem- bers] � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 723 06/05/2021MMM00350Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 744 06/05/2021MMM00375Agriculture Schemes � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 744 06/05/2021NNN00450Care of the Elderly � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 747 06/05/2021PPP00150Anti-Social Behaviour � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 750 06/05/2021QQQ00300Driver Test � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 752 06/05/2021RRR00900Estimates for Public Services 2021: Message from Select Committee � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 757 06/05/2021RRR01100Message from Business Committee � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 757 DÁIL ÉIREANN Déardaoin, 6 Bealtaine 2021 Thursday, 6 May 2021 Chuaigh an Leas-Cheann Comhairle i gceannas ar 10 a�m� Paidir. Prayer. 06/05/2021A00100Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) Question again proposed: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time�” 06/05/2021A00200Deputy Alan Dillon: I appreciate the opportunity to discuss a Bill that has real potential to benefit, not just our generation, but future generations. I would go as far as saying that this Bill has the potential to be transformative for Irish society and to instil a real sense of pride in our response to climate action. I know this is an important Bill for the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and his party, for which his colleagues have shown a real passion and determination. I also acknowledge the contribution of the Joint Committee on Climate Action for its input on the Bill� I watched the Minister being heckled two weeks ago when introducing this fundamental Bill but I, for one, wish to thank him for bringing it before the Oireachtas. Agriculture is one sector that has raised some concerns and while many challenges exist for it, this sector also has the potential to positively address climate action. There will be a need for real and meaningful engagement to address the concerns of this sector� The Bill will provide for extensive consultation in the development of carbon budgets and future plans and strategies, ensuring effective public and stakeholder participation at all key steps of the process, which I welcome. It is also important to look at the prospective benefits when farmers engage proactively on climate change. For example, the results based environment-agri pilot project, REAP, is an important step. I am specifically thinking of farmers availing of REAP who choose to use more renewable energy in their farms, as I suspect this would increase their environmen- tal scores. This, in turn, would lead to greater payments under schemes such as REAP, which I suspect we will see expanded over time� I welcome this� At constituency level in Mayo, I was impressed with the efforts of local communities in their work on becoming decarbonisation zones� It shows there is a real appetite among commu- nity groups to take this issue seriously and raise awareness of it. Some specific issues have been raised with me by constituents about this proposed legislation and they need to be addressed� For instance, there is a need for more detail on the principles of climate justice and a just transi- 610 6 May 2021 tion. There is a demand to provide more clarification on the interpretation of the 2030 targets, which is an important step. There also seems to be a lack of targets set for aviation, shipping, non-territorial emissions and offshore mitigation. The regional airports programme, which is of significant benefit to small airports, also sup- ports sustainability objectives. It may be worthwhile discussing how sustainability funding under the programme can be increased and indeed, putting in place similar sustainability fund- ing increasing over time for other transport modes and sectors� One that comes to mind is the western rail corridor, which is an important piece of infrastructure. This is a critical junction for Ireland, at which we need to choose the right path and grasp the nettle versus failing to act. In doing so, we need to put our money where our mouths are on climate change. I note that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, acknowledged the significant level of investment required by ESB for our electricity network assets and renewable genera- tion assets in previous debates on this Bill� I was glad to hear that plans are in place to increase the statutory borrowing limit of the ESB from its current level of €6 billion to €12 billion to support this� I acknowledge the thousands of young people and students around the country who stood up and said that now is the time for action, urging Government to prioritise measures to protect against the ravages of climate breakdown� This ranged from the Youth Assembly on Climate Change coming into the Dáil to the school strikers and the many green activists who lined our streets. This Government is listening, and more importantly, acting. I welcome this Bill and look forward to supporting it� 06/05/2021A00300Deputy Michael Creed: I thank Deputy Dillon for sharing his time with me� I also wel- come the opportunity to say a few words on what is a significant Bill. The Bill is not in itself the outline of the challenge but it is the framework within which the challenge of climate change will be addressed. It is important in that context, no matter what position we come from as long we are not climate change deniers, that we are open to debate and consideration. There is a great deal of prejudice, propaganda, misinformation and ideology. There are also many instances of big business trying to shape, inform and influence the direction of this debate. To be honest, there is also quite a lot of nonsense being spoken in the context of this legislation and some of that is being done in this House� It is important that we have a calm and rational debate on what is the challenge of our generation. In that context, I welcome the legislation. I have reservations, particularly regarding the responsibilities being laid at the door of the Climate Change Advisory Council. I draw the Minister of State’s attention to the difference in the ask of the council and the ask that we have successfully had for several years of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC. The IFAC does not introduce the financial budget. However, it does exert extraordinary and positive influence in ensuring that we maintain the public fi- nances in good stead. Instead, what we are doing with the Climate Change Advisory Council is outsourcing the responsibilities, which should rest in the Executive and ultimately for ap- proval in the Oireachtas, for carbon budgets. I would like the Minister of State to address that issue in his reply to the debate because the council, as I understand it, will propose the budget. The Minister may amend it in the context of engagement with the council and the Government will subsequently approve it. Simply put, that is a slight on the function of this House and on its primary duty and accountability for budget matters, be it for fiscal or carbon budgets. Lest there be any doubt, carbon budgets are the right way to go. People might argue that this is a moot point. I do not think so but I would be interested in hearing, in particular, the Minister of 611 Dáil Éireann State’s rationale behind the difference in approach with the IFAC and the Climate Change Ad- visory Council. I welcome other provisions in the Bill. In particular, I welcome