Paul Murphy: Government Talks Climate But Fails to Act
Paul Murphy criticised the Government's handling of the climate crisis, saying the 51% emissions reduction target by 2030 does not match the science and is already off track. He accused ministers of yielding to big agribusiness lobbying, which has delayed sectoral emissions ceilings and risks missed targets or unfair burdens on others.
Emissions target and EPA
The 51% emissions reduction target by 2030 was described as inadequate and not aligned with what developed countries require. The EPA was cited as saying the current pace of implementation will not achieve the change required.
Missing sectoral ceilings
Murphy said sectoral ceilings due by the end of June under the Climate Action Plan have not been published. He attributed the delay to lobbying by big agribusiness and ministers representing those interests within Government.
Agribusiness, farmers and just transition
He asked whether the Government will bow to the agribusiness lobby and shift reductions onto the rest of society or simply miss targets. He also pressed for a just transition that would include small farmers and rely on principles of food sovereignty. A colleague challenged his use of the phrase "big agribusiness", arguing that farmers across the country should not be ignored.
Government defence and measures cited
In response, the Government argued it is "walking the walk" on climate, pointing to expanded active travel funding, the Climate Action Law and ongoing discussions between the Minister for Climate and line ministers on sectoral emissions limits. The Government also highlighted a carbon tax, saying its revenue will fund environmental farming, retrofitting and fuel poverty - an approach Murphy opposed.
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The Government likes to talk the talk when it comes to the climate crisis, but it repeatedly fails to walk the walk. The 51% emissions reduction target by 2030 does not match the science about what is required by developed countries. But we are already off track at an inadequate target. The EPA says the current pace of implementation will not achieve the change required. We were meant to have the sectoral ceilings by the end of June, according to the Climate Action Plan. We do not have them, very clearly because of lobbying by big agribusiness and ministers representing their interests within the Government. Will the Government be bowing down again to the big agribusiness lobby with the consequence of more reductions for the rest of the society or more likely simply missing the targets? Or will you implement a just transition, including from small farmers, who would actually benefit from one based on the principles of food sovereignty? I do not know what you mean by big agribusiness. I think the farmers, farmers, farmers, farmers, no, but you know yourself as well and you just throat the phrase big agribusiness. And ignore farmers across the length and breadth of the country, be they suckler herd farmers or whatever. Bottom line is this, the Government is walking the walk in respect of climate change. The most comprehensive active travel funding and plans put in place by this Government in the last two years. Also in terms of the Climate Action Law that we have passed, there are discussions underway between the Minister for Climate and the line ministers in respect of each sector in terms of the sectoral emissions targets and limits. But we have also brought in a carbon tax, the revenue for which will go towards environmental farming, towards retrofitting and towards fuel poverty. But of course you oppose that. Thank you. Thank you.
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