The government says they’re against LNGs, yet a huge LNG terminal is being built at Shannon!Last week the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) told the government they would not meet the target of a million ElecticVehicles (EVs) by 2030. This government, and the Greens in it, are presiding over a shambles of an environment policy. We say : NO to LNGs; YES to free, frequent, public transport.

 

We failed to achieve our targets last year to reduce harmful emissions, so we have to pay a fine of €50 million. This will continue to rise because we’re still NOT doing enough of the right things to reduce emissions. There are accountancy tricks and a ‘fantasy’ about how the €50million is used. Smoke and mirrors from Eamon Ryan by way of explanation, but the facts remain it’s a waste of public money, and when we need so much – wages for student nurses and midwives for instance, services for sick children and children being failed by our ridiculous system. I spoke in the Dáil Climate Committee yesterday about this, and how it relates to CETA.

Bríd engages with witnesses at the committee and makes the point that Ireland and the EU are being hypocritical when we is prepared to do deals with countries that do not respect policies to protect the environment, through ‘carbon leakage’.

I raised concerns about the aviation industry in the Dáil today, in the context of an amendment to proposed policy changes concerning the industry. FOR SHEER BRASS NECK, AVIATION BOSSES TAKE THE CAKE! Both Aer Lingus and Ryanair workers have been treated disgracefully by management who have taken the opportunity the Covid crisis presented, to sack union activists, slash working conditions and generally put the boot into staff. And all the while, demanding increased state aid to the industry and challenging public health measures. They rail against policies that acknowledge the to tackle #ClimateChange, and in the midst of it all, the Irish Govt make a former Ryanair boss, CEO of the Irish Aviation Authority. Former poacher turned game-keeper? I don’t think so.

Bríd who was on the Dáil Climate Committee refers to the extensive work of that committee which brought over 20 recommendations to tackle climate change to the government. The only measure the govt have focussed on is Carbon Tax increase for ordinary people, leaving corporations who promote and use fossil fuels, off the hook. Fuel poverty and sharp practice by fuel providers are rampant in Ireland, and those suffering as a result are the very ones targeted by Carbon Tax increases.

Very worrying responses on the Climate Committee today. What’s happening for the workers in Just Transition is far from clear, with one of the experts telling us that “..process is as important as outcome..” and then passing the buck when it comes to specifics, like Bord na Móna workers. Very interesting too to learn that a strategy based on ‘carbon capture and storage’, may have niche role in some areas, but can generally can create more problems than it solves. And planting more trees is no blanket solution either, producing unwanted results like changes to the soil.

HIT THE ONES WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD IT. That’s the motto for the FFG government. Disgracefully, grants given by Bord Gais at the outset of Covid are now being clawed back for ‘pay-as-you-go’ customers, so that now when you buy €20 worth of gas, you only get €8 worth. And this is supposed to be a benefit for people? And now increased CARBON TAXES on people who already in fuel poverty and have no alternatives; this is cruel and won’t stop climate change. They should tax the mega-rich fossil fuel corporations instead.