Climate change is the biggest challenge facing society, Green Party energy spokesman Eamon Ryan said as he introduced a Bill aimed at meeting Ireland's climate change targets and obligations.
The Climate Change Targets Bill calls on the Government to establish annual pro-rata reductions required to reach the targeted 60 to 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on a gradual incremental basis by the year 2050.
Mr Ryan said during a Private Members' debate on the Bill that the only way to achieve the "dramatic greenhouse gas reductions necessary to avoid the catastrophic repercussions of climate change is to implement orderly, long-term and equitable solutions".
But Minister for the Environment Dick Roche said it would be the "grossest political irresponsibility" to accept the legislation. He said that "while the sentiment is right, the Bill would do irrevocable damage".
Introducing the legislation, Mr Ryan said that "because all successive future governments will have to address this problem, it is essential that we have all-party consensus on the future of Irish energy policy. That is precisely what this Bill does.
"This is not an exercise in political point-scoring but rather a genuine endeavour to raise the political horizon above the short-term electoral cycle."
The party's environment spokesman, Ciaran Cuffe, said that "climate change is a greater threat to mankind than terrorism in the 21st century. It does require resolve, and courage and conviction from government. Climate change is already killing people, if you look at sub-Saharan Africa. It is leaving people homeless in New Orleans from the excesses of hurricanes.
Mr Cuffe said his party was presenting the Bill as the UN negotiations on climate change moved into a crucial stage. The negotiations would help establish the ground rules for cutting greenhouse gas emissions after 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol expires.
Dan Boyle (Green Party, Cork South-Central) said there were alternatives to introducing a carbon tax. There is the question of personal carbon credit, which existed for countries and industries and could certainly exist for individuals. This was an ongoing process that would take most of the next century. The tax system needed to be completely restructured to ensure fuel poverty as an issue disappeared as an issue.
Mr Roche said, however, that the Government "cannot subscribe to a Bill which seeks to set long-term reduction targets on a legislative basis".
The debate continues tonight.
