Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 January 2023
74. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the Ministers who attended an event (details supplied); the number and the officials who attended; the capacity in which they attended; and the costs involved for all Government attendees, officials and other persons associated with the Government, to include travel, accommodation, subsistence and any and all ancillary costs. [63444/22]
View answerCOP27, the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, took place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from 6 to 18 November 2022. During the first week, Ireland was represented by the then Taoiseach, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the then Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora. I led Ireland’s National Delegation to COP27 for the second week of the conference. Ireland’s delegation included 54 representatives across six Government Departments and three Agencies.
I was accompanied by two advisors and eight officials from my Department. Officials are engaged across a range of EU negotiating teams linked to priority areas for Ireland including: loss and damage, science, gender and climate finance. I represented the EU in the loss and damage negotiations which were seen as critical to the successful outcome of this COP and a key issue for Ireland.
In parallel to the negotiations my engagement at COP27 focused on supporting Ireland’s climate priorities, which includes promoting greater ambition, accelerating a shift away from fossil fuel dependence and calling for increased climate finance, with improved accessibility and quality of adaptation finance going to the most vulnerable.
While the costs associated with my Department's participation at the conference currently amount to just over €81,000, which includes travel and delegation office expenses, final costs are not yet available. Questions with respect to the costs incurred by other Departments or Agencies in relation to COP27 should be directed to the appropriate Department or Agency concerned.
