The Taoiseach would be legally responsible for ensuring that Ireland’s climate change targets were met under radical new laws proposed by an Oireachtas Committee.
In a new report published today, the all-party Committee on Climate Change argued that in order for climate change targets to be met, responsibility must rest with the Taoiseach.
It also suggests that greenhouse emissions targets, including the long-term target for 2050, be set down in the law. Targets for emissions have been included in the British Climate Change Act introduced last year.
The other major features for new laws proposed by the committee include the setting up an independent Climate Change Commission with a clear advisory mandate and reporting requirements to the Oireachtas.
Among its roles would be the preparation of impact and risk assessment arising from climate change and laying out strategies on mitigation. It would also have the power to report on how Ireland was achieving its targets in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The report also proposes that an Office on Climate Change and Renewable energy be established. This new office, to be run by the Department of the Taoiseach, would have a wide range of responsibilities. It would be responsible for advising on national
policy on climate change, supporting the Government when it was engaged in international negotiations, and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions.
The role of the Taoiseach’s department is central to the new legislation. It will be required to present an annual climate change statement at the same time as a Carbon Budget is unveiled that identifies how climate change targets will be met.
Other major changes which are suggested include the setting of energy and electricity and efficiency targets; the preparation of a National Climate Change Strategy.
The report specifies that this strategy will be reviewed by the Oireachtas annually with reference to an annual climate change statement to be made by the Taoiseach.
“As leader of Government, the Taoiseach has authority across all departments and can hire and fire ministers,” said the report’s rapporteur, Labour’s Liz McManus.
“One of the great frustrations this Committee has encountered is the lack of an integrated approach across all relevant departments: Environment, Transport, Agriculture, Energy, Enterprise and Employment,” she said.
Ms McManus said politicians in Ireland have talked about introducing climate change legislation for many years. “Now is the time to jettison rhetoric and to act to demonstrate our climate change credentials.”
Proposals to introduce a Climate Change Bill are already included in the Programme for Government. But this second report from the Joint Committee sets out the framework for such legislation.
It also proposes the introduction of penalties for sectors that fail to meet the targets, including local authorities and public transport companies. However, committee members conceded that the imposition of penalties in some sectors, including agriculture, would be problematic.
Speaking at the official launch of the report in Leinster House, Committee chairman Sean Barrett (Fine Gael) said the report was sufficiently detailed to form the basis for legislation.
He pointed out that all members of the Committee, which include five Fianna Fail members as well as Green Party TD Ciaran Cuffe, support the document fully.