Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2017
79. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the discussions he has had with his EU counterparts with responsibility for climate change since the US President Trump's announcement that the US was withdrawing from the Paris climate accord; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29932/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra90. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has had communications with his counterparts across the world in view of recent statements by President Trump to pull out of the Paris Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29811/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra92. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the discussions he has had with his counterparts in the G7 countries regarding the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change [27023/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra472. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on and his engagements with his counterparts on the Paris Agreement; and his further views on the decision of the US Administration to withdraw from same. [27243/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 90, 92 and 472 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 458 on today's Order Paper.
The Irish Government strongly supports concerted international action to address the global challenge of climate change and, together with our EU colleagues, helped to bring about the entry into force of the Paris Agreement last November.
Ireland has joined the international community in expressing our concern and disappointment at the decision by the United States to seek to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. As I stated in my immediate reaction to the decision, we are all vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and we all have a responsibility to address climate change within our respective capabilities. The withdrawal decision marks a regrettable shift away from the previously strong climate ambition shown by the United States, which played a major role in mobilising global ambition and achieving the agreement reached by 195 Parties in Paris in 2015.
The Environment Council, which met on 19 June, was unanimous in its view that the Paris Agreement is fit for purpose and is not open to renegotiation. This position was reaffirmed by the European Council at its meeting last week. Heads of State and Government agreed that the EU remains fully committed to playing a strong role in implementing the Paris Agreement and to enhancing cooperation with its international partners under the Paris Agreement, in particular with the most vulnerable countries.
The Government fully supports this stance. We continue to play a strong role in meeting this objective through our on-going commitment, in particular through Irish Aid programmes, to supporting developing countries to integrate climate action in development plans, including in relation to social protection, disaster risk reduction, and strengthening agriculture and food systems.
Ireland will continue to work closely with other EU Member States and international partners to ensure that the Paris Agreement becomes fully operational as soon as possible, giving the international community the means to take the action required to limit the impacts of climate change.
