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Climate Change Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 October 2018

Thursday, 18 October 2018

Ceisteanna (5)

Eamon Ryan

Ceist:

5. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to facilitate private businesses in transitioning to a low-carbon and more sustainable business model. [43004/18]

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Freagraí scríofa

I am very much aware that climate change represents a significant challenge for our economy and society. My Department’s vision is to make Ireland the best place to succeed in business, delivering sustainable full employment and higher standards of living across all regions of the country. My Department incorporates climate action into policy making; funds research related to climate change; and, through its agencies, assists enterprises to reduce emissions and achieve greater energy efficiency.

In terms of enterprise policy, the Government’s national enterprise strategy - Enterprise 2025 Renewed - emphasises the effects of climate change and the imperative for sustainable development. We know that the development of the low carbon economy presents commercial opportunities to companies across many sectors in Ireland, in addition to the desired environmental benefits. Enterprise 2025 Renewed recognises that we must support enterprises to develop and adopt innovative technologies, products and services that increase efficiencies, reduce waste and deliver sustainable development.

The ambitions set out in Enterprise 2025 Renewed are given effect through supporting strategies such as the Action Plan for Jobs; the Regional Action Plan for Jobs; and Innovation 2020; as well as, through the National Planning Framework which has a strong focus on the development of sustainable enterprises.

The Action Plan for Jobs (2016/2017) and the Action Plan for Rural Development (2017) called for an examination of the scope, feasibility and conditions necessary for the development of the bioeconomy and the publication of a high-level policy statement on the bioeconomy. The Government’s first National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy, which my Department contributed to, was published earlier this year and highlights the potential of the bioeconomy in promoting the more efficient use of renewable resources while supporting economic development and employment in rural Ireland.

A key policy measure will include the development of the Future Jobs Initiative. This new initiative, which the Government approved in July will replace the Action Plan for Jobs. It will set out a new economic pathway and focus on:

- building resilience through improving productivity especially among Irish SMEs;

- enhancing skills levels and increasing participation in the labour force; and

- preparing for, and exploiting, the anticipated transformational changes arising from technological developments and the low carbon and digital economies.

A key motivation for Future Jobs is the recognition that climate change is having a pervasive impact across all sectors and on how we do business. Increased consumer awareness of environmental issues, international developments, regulation and industry responses are all driving growth in the global clean technology sector.

Future Jobs will be discussed at a National Summit in November which will be attended by key stakeholders from industry, academia, civic society and public administration. Future Jobs, to be published in early 2019, will prioritise cross Government actions from 2019 onwards to ensure that, whatever the future may hold, Ireland will remain a leading and advanced economy succeeding internationally.

I would also draw attention to the work of our agencies in partnering with their clients. The NSAI, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland all have programmes in place to assist enterprises in the context of transitioning to low carbon and sustainable business models. These include supports for improvements to enterprises’ energy and environment systems and also innovation and R&D supports related to the bio economy.

Ultimately, enterprises themselves have responsibility for transitioning successfully to the low carbon economy, and ensuring they operate a sustainable business model. The National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility, ‘Towards Responsible Business’, encourages companies to go beyond compliance and to consider their impact on the environment.

Question No. 6 answered orally.
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