We will now consider the outline heads of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill. The budget is next Tuesday so the next committee meeting will not be until next Wednesday, in private session. Professor John Sweeney will bring back the final draft of the Bill. I seek a comment from the members present.
Outline Heads of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2013: Discussion
I welcome the fact that we have the report. It is important that it broadly reflects the process that has taken place and the engagement of the committee therein. Much work went into it over a number of days and previously. It is urgent that we move the process forward, not least because of the most recent international report on climate change and given that we can no longer pretend it is not happening. Not believing in it is the equivalent of believing in a flat earth. It is important that we move the process forward as quickly as possible. Professor Sweeney has done a good job on behalf of the committee. I look forward to moving on to the various Stages of the legislation and developing it.
It has been a very good process in that it was very useful to have received the expert opinions from right across the spectrum. Had I been writing it, I probably would have been more hardline on a number of issues. I would have wanted targets, etc. It is important that we can live with the report going to the Minister. Circumstances would be different had we written it ourselves. Deputy Stanley is quite right that the train has left the station and that climate legislation is urgent. Through the legislative process, we will have an opportunity to make a contribution on the various stages of the Bill. That will obviously be informed by many of the deliberations here over recent months. Deputy Humphreys said it is important that we give direction, assist or have some influence in the process. The report makes a decent attempt at doing that.
We have a very good draft document to proceed with. I thank the chairman, Professor John Sweeney, and the staff. We were down here during those very warm days in the summer. One member of staff has retired. I ask that one of the officials send on our good wishes to her.
We can work with the report. The experts that came in from all sides did great public service by educating the members. Quite a number of people said to me that they watched the proceedings of the committee on television. It is quite encouraging that the public is engaging in the process. The heads of Bill are still fairly new. The committee has done a very good job with the heads. The Minister has already taken on some of the ideas in the experts' submissions. I echo Deputy Catherine Murphy in saying we should move on, create draft legislation and ensure we get it through the Oireachtas as quickly as possible. We all know how urgent it is. If we can work in co-operation, as we have done at meetings of this committee, we will have a very strong Bill.
I acknowledge the tremendous work that went into putting this report together. It is very timely although a bit late in the day, if the truth be told. I acknowledge the excellent submissions we have had. The process has been very positive for everybody who engaged in it. I acknowledge the work of Professor Sweeney on interpreting everything and taking recommendations from members of this committee. I look forward with interest to seeing how the legislation will be produced and to how our proceedings here will have influenced it. We will take an opportunity to contribute to the legislation as we consider each stage. The work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has been a wake-up call for governments and people globally, a call for them to realise that the planet is getting warmer and that we must take action. We must take it now.
Gabhaim buíochas le gach comhalta. Beimid ar ais Dé Ceadaoin seo chugainn mar beidh an buiséad ar an Máirt.
The joint committee adjourned at 5.15 p.m. until 1.15 p.m. on Wednesday, 16 October 2013.