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Climate Action Committee to begin hearings as it examines Citizens’ Assembly report on tackling climate change

4 Sep 2018, 14:02

The Joint Committee on Climate Action will begin its public hearings on Wednesday, 5 September when it begins its examination of the Citizens’s Assembly Report How the State can make Ireland a Leader in tackling Climate Change .

The Committee will hear from Justice Mary Laffoy, Chair, Citizens’ Assembly and Professor Alan Barrett, ESRI.

Chair of the Joint Committee Hildegarde Naughton TD said: “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing our planet and can only be addressed if we all play our part in helping to reduce the harmful emissions that are damaging our planet and environment and driving climate change. The work we will do over the next few months will have a huge influence on the climate action Ireland will take. All the indicators tell us that we need to change the way we generate electricity, how we commute, how we heat our homes and how we manage our lands  because at the moment  our emissions are increasing and we will struggle to meet internationally binding obligations. As climate action will impact on all aspects of our lives, we need to signpost what is required so that all sectors of society, be that the large multi-nationals, the small businesses, our farming community, our workforce, all households and the general public can plan and make the changes that will be necessary to drive down greenhouse gas emissions.

The Committee was established to consider the third report and recommendations of the Citizens’ Assembly entitled How the State can make Ireland a Leader in tackling Climate Change. A total of 17 recommendations are detailed in the report. Each of the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly must now be considered by the Joint Committee as a first step. Therefore, as we begin our deliberations it is logical and appropriate that we hear from Justice Mary Laffoy on the work that led to the formulation of its recommendations.

The Committee will also hear from Professor Alan Barrett, Chief Executive of the Economic and Social Research Institute, and will examine issues around how carbon tax can act as an incentive and how to better target incentives such as grants for retrofitting homes.

The Committee shall report its conclusions and recommendations to both Houses of the Oireachtas by 31 January 2019.”

The meeting will start at 10am in Committee Room 3. The schedule is:

Committee proceedings can be viewed live here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

Media enquiries

Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
+353 1 618 3903
+353 86 0496518
ciaran.brennan@oireachtas.ie
Twitter: @OireachtasNews

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