Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 September 2021
22. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on claims made in advertisements relating to carbon offsetting and neutrality by companies that provide little detail on such claims; if he will strengthen legislation in this area to prevent misleading advertisements or greenwashing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44101/21]
View answerI ask the Minister his views on claims made in advertisements relating to carbon offsetting and neutrality by companies that provide little detail on such claims, if he will strengthen legislation in this area to prevent misleading advertisements or so-called "greenwashing", and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The Deputy makes a good point. There is real concern. I read recently one of the real concerns of many people on climate change is they do not really know what to do. Our people want to take action on climate but they are sightly uncertain about what is the best thing to do. Our job is to make it easier for people to do the right thing about some of the issues we have discussed here today, by regulation, by setting standards, and by investing and making the better alternative cheaper. What does not help is when one has companies, as the Deputy says, engaged in greenwashing, in pretending something is a key part of the solution when, in fact, it is not of the scale of change of transformation we need.
I will take the Deputy's suggestion. I have not considered it to date but I think it is a valid one. I will engage with my colleagues. In terms of the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, in the broadcasting area, it would be an appropriate measure for us to ask the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland or others to look at this issue because it is a real issue. I will revert back to Deputy O'Rourke having spoken to Deputy Catherine Martin.
As we will be out of time, I ask Deputy O'Rourke to make a quick comment.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. There is significant opportunity. There is potential. I can see some early indications of it where, with the green movement and the positive way that it is held broadly, it might be misrepresented in a way to take advantage in a marketing term in advertising. There is a need for regulation of the area whereby, if people claim zero emissions or carbon neutrality, that it means something and that there is a standard it is held against. That would be increasingly important in the time ahead.
There is no time for a further response. My apologies to Deputy Griffin. There were so many Deputies not here, I inadvertently missed the Deputy. However, he would have just got a couple of seconds anyway, like Deputy O'Rourke. I apologise for that.
