Paul Murphy: Demands Ban on Fossil Fuel Advertising
Paul Murphy urged a ban on fossil fuel advertising, endorsing the UN Secretary-General's call and saying he has already introduced draft legislation to achieve it. He accused fossil fuel companies of profiting while the most vulnerable are left stranded and challenged the Taoiseach to declare which side he is on.
Legislation already drafted
Paul Murphy said People Before Profit introduced a bill to ban fossil fuel advertising last March. He told the house the legislation has already been drafted and argued it could be supported by the government tomorrow.
UN Secretary-General's appeal
Murphy referenced the UN Secretary-General's recent call for a fossil fuel advertising ban similar to the tobacco advertising ban. He repeated the UN description of fossil fuel companies as the "godfathers of climate chaos" who "rake in record profits" while vulnerable people are left stranded.
Direct challenge to the Taoiseach
In his address Murphy posed a direct question to the Taoiseach, asking "which side are you on?" He asked whether the Taoiseach would heed the UN Secretary-General's appeal and commit to banning fossil fuel advertising.
Government response
The Taoiseach responded that the government is "clearly on the side of saving the planet" and committed to reducing emissions by 51% by 2030, citing a very ambitious climate action plan. He said the state must urgently move away from fossil fuels to renewable and sustainable energies and that he would ask the Minister for the Environment to share a view on the UN Secretary-General's comments.
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Last week, the UN Secretary General called for a ban on fossil fuel advertising, similar to the ban on tobacco advertising. Antonio Guterres asked every country in the world to bring in this ban. He called the fossil fuel companies the godfathers of climate chaos, who rake in record profits, while the most vulnerable are being left stranded. Teachta, the fossil fuel companies are destroying our climate, just like the tobacco companies destroyed people's health. We have, in People Before Profit, already introduced a bill to do just that, to ban fossil fuel advertising last March. So the legislation has already been drafted, it could be supported by the government tomorrow. He said, it's we, the peoples, versus the polluters and the profiteers, and it's time for leaders to decide whose side they're on. So, Taoiseach, which side are you on? We have a ban on tobacco advertising. Will you heed the call of the UN Secretary General and ban fossil fuel advertising? Thanks, Deputy Murphy. We're clearly on the side of saving the planet. We're clearly on the side of reducing our emissions by 51% by 2030. We have a very ambitious climate action plan in relation to that and a lot of work to do. We do need to urgently move away from fossil fuels to renewable and sustainable energies. And I'll ask the Minister for the environment to share a view in relation to the UN Secretary General's comments. Thank you very much. Sean Ken.
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