Bernard Durkan
Ceist:1. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services will meet next. [52551/23]
Ceisteanna - Questions
Cabinet Committees
Paul McAuliffe
Ceist:2. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Service will next meet. [53903/23]
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:3. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Service will next meet. [53904/23]
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:4. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services will meet next. [55079/23]
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Ceist:5. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services will next meet. [55088/23]
John Lahart
Ceist:6. Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services will next meet. [55089/23]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:7. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services will next meet. [55112/23]
Paul Murphy
Ceist:8. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services will next meet. [55115/23]
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:9. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services will next meet. [55132/23]
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:10. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services will next meet. [55162/23]
Mick Barry
Ceist:11. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services will meet next. [55230/23]
Cian O'Callaghan
Ceist:12. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Service will next meet. [55338/23]
John Lahart
Ceist:13. Deputy John Lahart asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services will next meet. [55383/23]
I propose to take Questions Nos 1 to 13, inclusive, together.
The Cabinet committee on social affairs and public services oversees implementation of programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy and public services. The committee covers a range of topics, including immigration and integration, with a particular focus on equality and public service reform. Other topics covered by the committee include sport, social protection, arts and culture, justice issues such as policing reform, community safety, and domestic sexual and gender-based violence.
The committee has met on six occasions this year to discuss the proposed referendums and has considered detailed policy papers prepared by the inter-departmental group and incorporating extensive legal advice provided by the Office of the Attorney General.
The Cabinet committee on social affairs and public services last met on 20 November and will continue to meet in the period ahead. In addition to meetings of the Cabinet committee, I have regular engagements with Ministers at Cabinet and individually to discuss issues relating to their Departments.
I ask the Taoiseach to outline the extent to which discussions took place on the most serious social issues facing the country at the present time such as homelessness, people sleeping rough, and addiction of various forms and to what extent it was possible to identify the means of addressing these particular issues in early date as we approach the season of Christmas.
I would like to raise the issue of the humanitarian assistance fund. Glanmire was one of the areas that was worst affected by flooding in the last number of weeks. In my opinion we need to be better prepared for future instances in terms of how we deal with people after such events. It must be said that the welfare officers working in east Cork and Cork city have been phenomenal and very giving of their time to people. However, given the gravity and impact of the flooding events in Cork city and east Cork, the sheer volume of cases they have had to deal with has been very difficult. An awful lot of people would require one-to-one help with filling out what are quite extensive forms. We need to update the whole application process for future flooding events and to increase staffing levels. All resources necessary should be diverted at such times on an emergency basis.
I raised previously the issue of the 93-year-old woman in Dundalk who suffered an injury at home on 10 November. Her son called an ambulance but she had to wait from 5.20.p.m. until an ambulance crew saw her at 9.05 p.m. In fairness, having brought this up, an apology has been given to the woman but the answer I got back on this matter is insufficient. I will be writing to the Taoiseach and have already written to the HSE about this because I got no answers on how many crews and vehicles were operating that day and whether we have a system that is fit for purpose and which can provide the ambulance service that is required by our people.
Like previous speakers, I am concerned about a number of matters in the context of Christmas coming. I want to wish everyone a happy Christmas. There are many families who find this time of year very hard. In my own area of Carlow the staff in the social welfare office do a great job but I firmly believe the office needs more staff. The issue that is raised with me every day is that when people ring the office the staff will send out a form but there is no communication. As I said, the staff are doing a great job but we need to look at staffing there. Hand on heart, we need to look at the reduction in services provided by citizen's information offices. There are people out there who need to get forms, to get help with filling out forms, and who need more information. Could that be addressed?
An older lady rang me today. She was delighted that she had a medical card. I am raising this while the Taoiseach is here. She was delighted that her medical card meant that she would not have to pay but she went for an eye test for her driving licence and was charged for it. There is so much misinformation and I ask the Taoiseach to look at that.
I want to try to explain the cost-rental scheme to the Taoiseach again. I know it is a bit technical but it is a Government scheme. The point about cost-rental housing is that it is supposed to be for people who are above the social housing income threshold but below €66,000 in net income. However, as well as the income criterion there is an affordability criterion which means the rent must be no more than 35% of a person's income. People have to meet those two criteria. I have two examples, but it involves thousands of people most likely,one of a person earning €42,000 and the other of a person earning €46,000, both of whom are eligible on income grounds but not on affordability grounds because the rent is being set at a level that is higher 35% of their income. That means there is no scheme for them. This potentially affects thousands of workers, precisely those for whom the scheme is supposed to provide affordable accommodation. This is a basic failure to align the cost-rental criteria and I am asking the Taoiseach to address it.
I want to raise the inadequacy of local sports facilities in many of our communities. St. Kevin's Kilian's GAA club serves Kilnamanagh and Kingswood, where I live. It has close to 500 players and 1,000 members across 26 teams and an academy. It caters for boys and girls aged two up to adults but it does not have basic facilities such as toilets and changing rooms. The club produced a ten-year strategic plan a couple of years ago with the modest ambition of having changing rooms and toilets and building to a position of having a small AstroTurf training area and a hurling wall. I met a guy the other night who was going down with his kid to play against the shopping centre wall, where he can be kicked out, because there are none of these facilities. The problem is with the council. The club is willing to pay for these facilities, to do the fund raising itself but the council will not allow it on the basis that it falls outside its remit. It does not make sense. There needs to be local facilities in local areas.
Last month the Minister for housing, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Minister for integration, Deputy O'Gorman, were exchanging blows at Cabinet on the issue of migrant accommodation. This month the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Donohoe, and the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, are taking lumps out of each other on the issue of public health spending.
According to the Irish Daily Mail, the Minister for public expenditure, Deputy Donohoe, thinks that the actions of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, are appalling and are leading to a material and significant risk to our public finances. The Minister for public expenditure labelled the health Minister's management of his Department as exceptionally frustrating. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, retorted that he thought Paschal Donohoe was insane. It seems the closer we get to the election, the gloves are starting to come off on this issue.
The key point is that while these Ministers are squabbling, we have a health service that is in free fall in the delivery of key services to people. When will the Taoiseach put an end to the squabbling and make sure that the health service gets the funding it needs?
Staying on the issue of health, since the Government was formed, we have seen a doubling of child and adolescent mental health services waiting lists. In 2020, 1,115 children were waiting for first-time appointments. This year, that figure has risen to 4,421. In the area where I live, CHO 9, children are waiting more than 200 days for treatment for suicidal ideation and more than 100 days for treatment for eating disorders. Throughout the State, young people are being let down. Services are unable to recruit staff, funding is now lower than it was in 2019, and the number of beds needed for children in mental health crisis is half what it should be.
The first recommendation of the Mental Health Commission is to regulate CAMHS under the Mental Health Act. This would ensure that recommendations for governance and clinical reforms made by the commission can be implemented by the State and the HSE. My colleague, Deputy Ward, has brought forward legislation. It has passed First Stage. Will the Government embrace and support that legislation?
It is a Christmas bombshell. The new owners of VMware are proposing 364 redundancies. That is one job in every three at this company. It is a devastating blow to the workforce, the vast majority of which is based at Ballincollig in Cork city. How can a family enjoy their Christmas when a job is on the line like this and the new year is threatened by the spectre of unemployment? Last week, I asked the Taoiseach to ensure that the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, contacted this company to impress upon it the importance of each and every one of those jobs. Has the Minister done so?
I urge these workers to organise. A workforce that is united and organised will always have a better chance against a global corporation that puts profits first than a case where it is every worker for themselves.
I will ask about child homelessness and protections for renters. The Taoiseach has consistently stated that the no-fault ban on evictions last year did not work. However, last December, after the eviction ban was introduced, the number of children growing up without a home dropped for the first time in 11 months, and for three months in a row the number of children who were homeless fell. Since the eviction ban was lifted, the number of children growing up without a home has increased every single month. Now, almost 4,000 children are living in emergency homeless accommodation as we approach Christmas. That is the highest number ever on record.
In most European countries, renters who pay their rent cannot be evicted and there is a permanent ban on no-fault evictions. Will the Taoiseach withdraw his previous statements that the eviction ban was not working? Will the Government do the right thing and take action to tackle child homelessness by reinstating the ban on no-fault evictions?
I thank the Deputies for their questions. Deputy Durkan asked about the depth of discussion on the social issues most affecting people. That is very much what the Cabinet committee on social affairs and public services is all about. Health is dealt with separately, as is education and children, but that committee has a major focus on housing issues, in particular, and monitoring the implementation of Housing for All. This year, we will exceed our target of building 29,000 new homes. It will be well over 30,000 this year, which means bed spaces for 75,000 extra people, if you think about it. A considerable amount of new housing is being built in the country but, of course, a considerable deficit has to be closed as well.
In recent months, there has been a big focus on the cost of living. People will be aware of the measures announced in the budget to help them with the cost of living. They are seeing energy credits reduce their bills during this billing period. We heard some good news today from one of the electricity companies announcing a reduction in electricity and gas costs. We expect to see other companies follow suit, which is very encouraging. People will also have received the double payments, such as double child benefit payment and the Christmas bonus, in recent weeks. Those are the kinds of things we focus on. I am very pleased to see that inflation is now coming down and, I hope, is back under control and will be in 2024.
On Deputy O'Sullivan's question on flooding and the humanitarian assistance scheme, I join him in complimenting the community welfare officers in Cork on their work. It is possible for the Department of Social Protection locally to second staff to help out where needed. The paperwork is kept under review. I appreciate that it can be quite stressful to have to fill in all those forms when somebody has experienced a flooding event or some other form of emergency, but we need some form of checks and controls as well. It is ultimately taxpayers' money in the end and nobody will forgive us if it is found to have been misspent.
Deputy Ó Murchú again raised the issue of ambulance delays in his constituency. I have seen correspondence with him on that. I have asked the HSE to come back with replies to his questions, provided it is able to. It should be able to in most cases.
Deputy Murnane O'Connor talked about staffing in Carlow Citizens Information Centre. I am not sure whether the issue relates particularly to a lack of staff or just an inability to get staff. It could be a bit of both. We need to work on that for sure. More and more, we need to try to use modern technologies to help people. I am not saying a person can be replaced by a YouTube video or AI or anything like that, but they can certainly be helpful in providing people with information and assistance in a way that was not possible in the past.
I understand the point Deputy Boyd Barrett made on the cost-rental thresholds. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to examine the misalignment that may exist between income and affordability criteria. We will certainly examine that. I point out, however, that cost rental, when advertised, is heavily oversubscribed so it is not that any more people would benefit. We need to significantly scale up cost rental so that more people can benefit.
Deputy Paul Murphy raised some issues around the lack of sporting facilities in his constituency. Through my work in my constituency down the years, we have greatly improved sporting facilities across Dublin 15. It requires work. You have to sit down, work with the council, and help clubs to make sports capital grant applications. In my constituency, through a lot of work and working with clubs, we have managed to improve the number of facilities people have. It is that twin-track approach that works best.
I assure Deputy Tóibín that nobody has ever exchanged blows at a Cabinet meeting or subcommittee meeting. Rows in the Government are always greatly exaggerated by the media. Sometimes, I only know I was involved in a row when I read about it in the papers. That is the quality of some journalism in the State, unfortunately. When it comes to health funding, the health budget for 2024 is the biggest ever. There has been a very substantial increase in health funding, which has gone up from €14 billion in 2016 to €22.5 billion in 2024. It has gone up faster than population growth or the rate of ageing. These are real increases. We allocated an additional €92 million today in the REV. While the Ministers, Deputies Donohoe and Stephen Donnelly, have to work out exactly how that will be allocated, some will be for new drugs in 2024 because they are needed, and some will be for the nursing home support scheme to make sure we do not see an increase in waiting times for the fair deal scheme.
On CAMHS, Deputy McDonald spoke about the big increase in demand for mental health services among young people. That is something we have all experienced in our constituency work. We think legislation for the regulation of CAMHS makes sense in principle, but I have not read the Bill from cover to cover. We will have to make sure we do that and examine it too.
I am informed that yesterday VMware notified the Minister, Deputy Coveney, of potential redundancies in Ireland. The company has advised us that it will seek to avoid the proposed redundancies where possible and will explore that in the consultation process with staff, which will begin this week. IDA Ireland will work with the local leadership team to understand the skills profile of the affected employees and match that with existing or target client skills requirements.
Has the Minister been in touch with VMware?
I do not know. The Deputy will have to ask him. They have certainly been in touch with him, but that was only yesterday.
On Deputy O'Callaghan's question on homelessness, I am happy to check up on what I said. I am always willing, unlike some others, to correct the record if I make errors. The point I made was that during the period in which the temporary winter eviction ban was in place, overall homelessness continued to rise. I do not believe I got into any particular subgroups or details but I will check that out and make a correction if I erred.
British-Irish Co-operation
Brendan Smith
Ceist:14. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Council. [53188/23]
Seán Haughey
Ceist:15. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Council. [54687/23]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:16. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Council. [55113/23]
Paul Murphy
Ceist:17. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Council. [55116/23]
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:18. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Council. [55163/23]
Mick Barry
Ceist:19. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Council. [55231/23]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 to 19, inclusive, together.
I hosted the 40th British-Irish Council summit in Dublin on 24 November. The theme of the summit was transforming children's lives, tackling child poverty and improving well-being. There was an excellent discussion about approaches across the British-Irish Council members and the scope to share learnings. I outlined the Government's work including the establishment of the child poverty and well-being programme in my Department to co-ordinate efforts in government.
We discussed the situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and our shared climate objectives. I also updated the council on my recent EU and international engagements including the last European Council meeting in November.
Regarding Northern Ireland I, along with the other members of the council, regretted the continued absence of any representatives from Northern Ireland. We were in agreement with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that restoration of the Executive and Assembly is in the best interests of the people there, and needs to be done on a sustainable basis.
On the margins of the summit, I met with the Welsh First Minister, Mark Drakeford. We discussed our strong bilateral relationship, including the recent Ireland-Wales Forum in October. I also met bilaterally with the Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf. We discussed our ongoing engagement and shared learning in a range of sectors and the potential to deepen links between our two countries.
The summit provided another valuable opportunity to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and all that has been achieved. As co-guarantor of the Agreement, the Government’s focus and priority remains on getting the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Executive, and the North-South Ministerial Council back up and running so that all three strands of the Agreement can function properly.
We have a good number of contributors for this grouping and each will have up to one minute.
I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. Will the Taoiseach update us on the Government's consideration of the despicable legislation on legacy issues that was enacted by the British Parliament. As we in this House all know, that legislation has no regard whatsoever for the victims of so many heinous crimes perpetrated by paramilitary organisations and by some members of the British state forces. The needs and concerns of victims and the families of victims has to be to the forefront in all our discussions and decision making.
At the end of this month, we will mark the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Belturbet where two teenagers lost their lives. Again, the truth has never been established in relation to who carried out that crime. Next May will mark the 50th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and again there has been a total lack of co-operation by the British state in having a meaningful and comprehensive investigation into those atrocities. There is an urgent need, as we all know, to have the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Northern Ireland Executive, and the North-South Ministerial Council established to carry on with day-to-day and very important issues that concern the people on a daily basis.
It is great to see strand 3 of the Good Friday Agreement fully operational again, as evidenced by the regular meetings of the British-Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. I note that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, attended the meeting of the British-Irish Council on 24 November, hosted by the Taoiseach. I wish to ask about strand 1, relating to the status and system of government in Northern Ireland, and in particular about efforts to restore the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly. The Northern Ireland Secretary this week is involved in all-party talks with the five main political parties in the North. It would seem that the issues surrounding the Windsor Framework have been largely resolved but Northern Ireland has a big budget problem. It is reported that the British Government has put a £2.5 billion financial package on the table. As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, can the Taoiseach give any indication of how these talks are proceeding? Are we likely to get an agreement on the restoration of the institutions before Christmas?
I note that the Taoiseach discussed the dire situation in Gaza at the British-Irish Council. The Scottish Government has, quite rightly, been very critical of the massacre that is going on in Gaza. This is quite different from the British Government which seems to be cheerleading on the massacre of people in Gaza. Did the Taoiseach discuss the plight of citizens or citizens' families who are trapped in Gaza? I would ask the Taoiseach to comment on this. He will be aware there is a big campaign to get Zac Hania back. He is an Irish citizen who is clearly being held hostage by Israel. Our Government should be expressing outrage at that. Similar issues have been raised by the Scottish Government about family members of people who are citizens in Scotland - as we have here - and are trapped in Gaza, with Israel refusing to let them out. Perhaps the Taoiseach will comment on that.
The Tories are trying to bribe Stormont back into existence with promises of funding that they claimed previously did not exist. Striking public sector workers and fighting communities know that they are the ones who forced this climbdown. Without their struggles, this would not be happening. The penny-pinching Tories are trying to ensure that even this money comes with strings of austerity attached. They want the price of opening the purse strings to be the introduction of water charges. The DUP, Sinn Féin and the rest of the establishment parties in the North are likely to go along with the Tories unless they are forced back. I am sure the Taoiseach remembers the humiliation his Government suffered when it tried to introduce water charges in this jurisdiction. Will the Government show that it has learned the lessons of that experience? Will the Taoiseach warn his Northern Ireland counterparts that any attempt to introduce water charges will be a disaster for them and will face mass opposition and mass non-payment?
The First Minister-elect of Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill, wrote to the Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, last Friday emphasising the gravity of the current stalemate in the North and the imperative for urgent action. The Taoiseach will be aware that all-party talks commenced yesterday. The public administration in Belfast is facing massive financial challenges including the issue of parity for public sector workers. The North has been underfunded by the Tory Government to a huge extent. I hate to disillusion Deputy Murphy, but there has been no game-changing financial offer put on the table. In fact the offer made by the British Government is entirely insufficient. The talks need to be concluded promptly. We need the Executive and we need the Assembly. It is, of course, crucial that we negotiate with the Treasury but I believe this can be done as effectively or more effectively with a functioning Executive. Will the Taoiseach impress upon the British Government the need for these talks to be brought to a speedy conclusion? Will he also outline the work that has been done on plan B should plan A fail?
My thoughts are with the missing fisherman and his family, and with the fisherman who was rescued. They were fishing from Clogherhead off the coast of County Louth. The RNLI, the Coast Guard, a number of fishermen and a number of other people are involved in the rescue. Our thoughts are with them.
We all agree that the Executive needs to be up and running in a sustainable way. What engagement has there been, from the Taoiseach's point of view, with the British Government? It is somewhat responsible for where the DUP has found itself in the last while. This is before we even deal with the issue of financial sustainability. We need an update in relation to the legacy Act following advice the Government has had from the Attorney General. Obviously we would see this as Britain not willing to deal with its dirty war in Ireland.
I hope the Taoiseach brought up the disgraceful cover Britain is providing for Israel.
Does Deputy Barry want to come in?
No thanks.
Deputy Brendan Smith raised legacy issues and referred to the Belturbet and Dublin-Monaghan bombings. On legacy issues and a possible interstate case, the legal advice the Government has received from the Attorney General on the UK Act is an essential contribution to our consideration of whether to take a case. Relevant Ministers are studying the advice, considering next steps and looking at all the implications of such a decision. These include: the potential impact on the bilateral relationship; broader political and civic concerns in Northern Ireland on legacy issues; and the position of victims groups and families.
The matter continues to be raised regularly with the British Government, most recently at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference that took place in Dublin on 28 November. Officials have been closely following cases taken by individuals in the High Court in Belfast. These hearings concluded on 30 November. The Department of Foreign Affairs is in ongoing contact with organisations providing claimants with assistance.
Deputy Haughey raised strand 3 and mentioned that it is operating reasonably well. That is the British Irish Council and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. Unfortunately, strands 1 and 2 are not operating because the assembly and the Executive are not functioning. However, it is positive that all the main parties are having roundtable discussions for the first time in many months. They are discussing Northern Ireland’s public finances, which we all know are very challenging right now. I do not wish to comment or speculate on the financial package of roughly £2.5 billion announced yesterday. It is up to the party leaders to negotiate with the Secretary of State and his officials. The discussions are welcome and I hope we shortly see progress towards a fully functioning assembly, Executive and North-South Ministerial Council. The people of Northern Ireland need and deserve a functioning devolved government after such a length of time since the most recent election.
I have said before that this Government stands ready to support agreed projects and programmes of mutual benefit, including through the shared island fund. If, by helping to co-fund some projects, we can ease the financial burden and pressure on the new Executive, we would be happy to do so. It is important that if the Executive is re-established, it has the best chance possible of being successful and, therefore, sustainable, and not falling again in six months or a year.
Deputy Boyd Barrett once again mentioned the dire situation in Gaza. I had an opportunity to discuss family members trapped in Gaza with the Scottish First Minister. As the Deputy will be aware, he had family of his own in Gaza. We agreed that, to the extent possible, the administrations would co-operate and compare notes and information on assisting people to leave should they wish to do so.
Zak Hania.
He was not discussed.
On water charges, any decision on that is a matter for the Northern Ireland parties. Water services have to be paid for. Water does fall from the sky but drinking water does not, nor is sewage and wastewater removed without considerable infrastructure and treatment plants. There are two options for paying: charges based on use, which is the most environmentally sound way of doing it, or taxation. Ultimately, it is a matter for the parties in Northern Ireland to decide how they want to charge people for those services.
We have not had discussions with the UK Government on plan B yet. That Government is not yet ready to discuss alternatives to the assembly and the Executive being re-established. Once it is willing to do so, we are willing to do so.
I draw Deputies' attention to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee report, published on Monday, 4 December, on the effectiveness of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, which included recommendations towards ensuring stability of the Executive. There are some very good ideas and proposals in that report. There must always be room for the Northern Ireland parties and the British and Irish Governments to look together at the institutions to ensure they work for the Northern Ireland of today. The agreement provides for this but it is a complex issue and needs careful reflection. That is best done, we believe, when we have solved the current impasse, established an Executive and returned to the power-sharing institutions on the basis of the mandate given by the people in the elections of May last year.
Climate Change Negotiations
Christopher O'Sullivan
Ceist:20. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at COP28. [53276/23]
Mick Barry
Ceist:21. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP28. [53405/23]
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:22. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach to report on his recent attendance at COP28. [53525/23]
Robert Troy
Ceist:23. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at COP28. [54688/23]
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Ceist:24. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at COP28. [55080/23]
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:25. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at COP28. [55114/23]
Paul Murphy
Ceist:26. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his attendance at COP28. [55117/23]
Alan Farrell
Ceist:27. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Taoiseach to provide an update on his engagements at COP28. [55145/23]
I propose to take questions No. 20 to 27, inclusive, together.
I attended the World Climate Action Summit at the outset of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, or COP28, in Expo City, Dubai, on 1 and 2 December. The summit marked the commencement of two weeks of negotiations on climate change, including progressing the finance needed to mitigate and manage its consequences. The latest negotiating text published yesterday is disappointing, particularly in relation to fossil fuels. It is weak and unacceptable to the EU, US and others. Negotiations are continuing and I hope that progress can be made and an ambitious outcome achieved.
COP28 is of particular significance as it marks the conclusion of the first global stocktake, a comprehensive assessment of the progress made in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. During the summit, I attended a leaders’ event on transforming climate finance and confirmed Ireland’s endorsement of the UAE declaration on a global finance framework aimed at making finance for climate action available, accessible and affordable. I participated in the global stocktake high-level event on the means of implementation, during which I emphasised the importance of delivering on commitments made and ensuring an adequate supply of finance. I also spoke at the launch of the Climate Club, co-hosted by Germany and Chile, which is a forum to facilitate collaborative work on reducing emissions in sectors that are hard to decarbonise.
On 2 December I gave Ireland’s national statement, where I announced that Ireland will contribute €25 million in 2024 and 2025 to the new loss and damage fund and will make further contributions thereafter. Overall, Ireland will double its international climate finance to at least €225 million per year by 2025.
While in Dubai, I had the opportunity to meet with Middle Eastern and Arab leaders to discuss the conflict and the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and to express Ireland’s appreciation for the assistance they gave us in evacuating Irish citizens from the territory.
I met other world leaders, including King Charles, the President of Brazil, the President of Ghana, the Prime Minister of India, the UK Prime Minister, the Prime Minister of Barbados and the Prime Minister of Fiji, as well as many European leaders who I meet regularly in Brussels. I also visited the Irish delegation and met with Irish youth climate advocates, representatives of humanitarian NGOs and academics.
I call Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan. I ask Members to keep to one minute.
COP28 has highlighted the level of resistance from oil and gas and companies and countries closely tied to oil and gas. There is an inherent resistance to a reduction in use of fossil fuels globally. We are seeing the scale of the battle we face in order to address that. We have to continue that fight in terms of international discussion. At home we need to ramp up efforts to wean ourselves off fossil fuels, including oil, gas, diesel and so on.
We find in this House that it is easier to talk of things like floating offshore wind because it is out in the sea and will not impact anyone, but most of the solution at the moment is being provided by onshore wind. We cannot forget about that technology. One third of our electricity comes from onshore wind; it was two thirds in July. We need to develop a system. An Bord Pleanála has in the past 12 months not granted planning permission for a single onshore wind farm. That needs to change if we are serious about renewable energy.
The Taoiseach described the draft text put forward by the COP presidency as disappointing. I would describe it as disgraceful. There is no clear commitment to phasing out fossil fuels, correctly described as a death cert for small island states. It is clear the Minister, Deputy Ryan, will not sign that text but the concern is there will be a splitting of the difference. I would be opposed to signing that. I would like to hear the Taoiseach's comments.
The negotiating position put forward by the Minister is far from sound. I refer to carbon emission cuts in the EU of 57% by 2030 when scientists are telling us it needs to be 76%, watering down the idea of ending fossil fuels, adding the word "unabated" and no date for coal being phased out in the European Union. Young people are going to have to fight for their futures against the powers that be irrespective of who wins the debate today.
Can the Taoiseach say whether it was obvious that the countries producing fossil fuel energy are not serious about the need for reductions, on the one hand, and the extent to which the consumer countries - like this country and other European countries - are prepared to make the alternatives available in the shortest possible time, on the other? Postponing it to some mid-point in the future and into the nowhere is not the answer. We must be prepared, otherwise we will have a shortage of energy.
COP 28 will reinforce the existential crisis we face if we do not take some drastic action very quickly. When the Taoiseach and I served in the Department of enterprise, there was an agreement to implement non-financial reporting for large companies and listed SMEs. That is for companies to annually say what they are doing with regard to reducing their carbon emissions. The implementation of that has been deferred by one year already. I learned recently that there are plans to defer it by a further two years in certain areas. I do not expect the Taoiseach to have the answers to hand, but I ask him to use his good offices to find out exactly what is happening. Many companies are ahead of the curve on this already and are doing really good things to reduce their carbon emissions. If we are deferring certain requirements by a further two years, that is a retrograde step. I ask the Taoiseach to look into the matter further.
We all hope for an ambitious outcome to COP 28. We cannot be sure of it. We have seen the conflict of interests, particularly with regard to making those necessary move away from fossil fuels and into renewables. Was there any discussion with regard to the huge carbon footprint caused by the weapons industry and those who profit from slaughter. I refer to the type of slaughter we are seeing in Gaza at present, with 18,000 dead, including 8,000 children, 1 million in danger of starvation and 1.9 million displaced. The European Union and many of its leaders have been absolutely disgraceful in what they are doing to provide cover for Israel. I do not know how America or any other county could stand over a veto on a ceasefire. We need to make sure that we work, like we did with that letter, with those who are willing, and who are on the right side of this argument with regard to humanitarianism. We need to do that, and that involves sanctions, and sanctions beyond just those imposed on the people involved in the disgraceful settler movement. It also means that we have to deal with companies that are still able to put money into companies involved in illegal settlements in Palestine.
The science is absolutely clear. Coal, gas and oil must be left in the underground. Yet, at COP, it is clear that the interests of profit and of oil-producing countries are coming first, while the needs of humanity are being forgotten. The COP process is failing. That is why I asked the Taoiseach earlier about whether Ireland would support a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty. He seemed to ask why Ireland had not been presented with a treaty or been involved in negotiating that treaty, but this is precisely at an early point. There is no text of a treaty that Ireland is being asked to sign. Ireland is being asked to commit to the basic three pillars of a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, which are non-proliferation, a fair phase-out and just transition and to work with other countries. A series of small island nations, Latin American countries, the European Parliament and the World Health Organization have signed up to work on such a treaty modelled on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Will the Government also sign up?
The draft text released last night by the COP presidency is beyond disappointing. For it to state that "reducing both consumption and production of fossil fuel in a just, orderly and equitable manner so as to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050 in keeping with the science", is quite a disappointment in the context of the action that is required. The main issue that I have with that is the term "or around", and then a cop-out reference to the science, which was just thrown in for good measure.
I have serious misgivings about the organisation of the conference and its being hosted in an oil-producing country, not because I do not think we should do that in the future - I do - but we have to come to a global consensus on the meaningful decisions that have to be made by the entire global community as quickly as we possibly can. I endorse what Deputy Durkan has said regarding this State's role in weaning our citizenry off fossil fuels and accelerating the programme in that regard.
I thank the Deputies for their questions. Deputy O'Sullivan referred to resistance to change from oil and gas companies and oil and gas-producing countries. I agree with Deputies Farrell, Durkan and O'Sullivan regarding our responsibility to scale up the use of renewables. Approximately 40% of the electricity we produce is from renewable sources. We are aiming for in the region of 80% by 2030. We think that is achievable. It needs to be done, not just through offshore and onshore wind but also by means of solar and battery storage and interconnection. We should not underestimate the challenge in getting that done. The energy systems we have were built up over generations. We are going to try and change them in a relatively short period. That is going to be a challenge for every country, not least Ireland.
Deputy Barry asked about expectations on a final agreement. The negotiations have entered a critical phase as we move to conclude the first cycle of the global stocktake. The latter assesses progress made in implementing the Paris Agreement and provides the context for countries to update their greenhouse gas reduction commitments and agree a new collective climate finance goal for next year. The latest negotiating text published yesterday is not acceptable. The text on fossil fuels in particular is weak and unacceptable to us, the Americans and others. We want to see ambitious language on fossil fuels. Global emissions need to peak by 2025, and we need to reach net zero by 2050. Therefore, the phasing out of fossil fuels in a just and orderly way is essential. While abatement technologies can play a role, they will be limited to those sectors where it is hardest to reduce emissions, like steel and concrete.
Negotiations are continuing. I hope that progress can be made and an ambitious outcome achieved. The outcome must include ambitious action on mitigation before and after 2030, on adaptation and on implementation, including aligning global finance flows with these goals.