The Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018 has been referred to select committee for consideration and, as such, it remains a legislative proposal. The challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is well understood by the Government and it is reflected in our national climate action and energy policy and the debate we have had with various questions today. Ireland will, within the EU and UN climate frameworks, pursue and achieve a transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy, underpinned by a secure and competitive energy supply in the period to 2050. Within that transition, it is accepted that Ireland will continue to require and to use some fossil fuels to meet the needs of our people and economy.
In contrast, the Bill proposed by Solidarity will not reduce Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed Bill will not help Ireland meet its 2020 or its 2030 emissions targets. The strategy outlined by Solidarity is for Ireland to rely entirely on imports for all our fossil fuel needs. In contrast to the UN intergovernmental panel on climate change, the Solidarity approach does not recognise that natural gas can play a role as a transition fuel in combination with variable renewable sources. The Government and the Irish public are willing to tackle climate change but the proposed Bill will not solve climate change and, in that context, the proposed approach to authorisations does not make sense.
Forgoing the use of Ireland’s natural resources, utilised in a proportionate manner within the context of a climate transition, would be a loss to the Irish people from a fiscal, economic and security of supply perspective. A significant change in long-established national policy should be based on informed debate and consideration. Around this time last year, when we were dealing with the prohibition of onshore fracking, I invited the Oireachtas committee to hold a broad policy debate on national energy policy. This policy debate could consider issues of competitiveness, climate change, security of energy supply and Ireland’s offshore exploration policy. Such a debate would inform any future legislation in this area. The pre-legislative scrutiny proposed for the Bill in July is an opportunity for such a debate. I understand there will be meetings of the committee on 3 July and 10 July and that representatives of the International Energy Agency are due in later this month to discuss the matter of energy security.
