5. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on climate action, environment and energy will next meet. [9457/25]
Sentiment score: 0.09
The latest warning today from the World Meteorological Organization is stark. We know that human-induced climate change has reached new extremes and some consequences are, sadly, now irreversible. The Government is simply not being proactive enough to meet our essential targets for emission reductions. On "Morning Ireland" today, Peter Thorne, chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, expressed frustration, stating he does not even know whether the Government is listening. Yesterday An Bord Pleanála granted permission to Shannon LNG for a commercial power plant in the Shannon estuary. This development flies in the face of any sensible or responsible climate policy aimed at addressing climate change. Our climate representative, Deputy Ciarán Ahern, has outlined his strong opposition and our party's opposition to this highly polluting power plant and to the importation of fracked gas. We call on the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to intervene to stop this going ahead and, instead, to develop State-backed offshore and renewable energy generation capacity. This is what we need. The Taoiseach spoke about the demonisation of data centres but looking at the proliferation of data centres, and the enormous usage of electricity constituted by data centres, which use more than 20% of our electricity, we have to take a more responsible approach to meeting our climate targets and to ensuring that climate policy really does run through all Government decisions, as the Taoiseach said it should.
Sentiment score: 0.01
No, that is not true.
Sentiment score: -0.55
The Opposition is not obstructing.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I said it this week.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Intervene now.
Sentiment score: 0.00
After the decision has been made.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Excuse me. We are not pandering-----
Sentiment score: 0.04
16. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach to report on his attendance at the informal EU leaders' meeting in February. [7610/25]
Sentiment score: 0.00
I note that the Taoiseach said the focus of the informal meeting of EU leaders was on security. Clearly, there is a huge threat to European democracy as we see increasing authoritarianism, both from Trump's Government in the US and much closer to home from the threat of Russia on Europe's borders and the threat of the Russian dictator, Putin, and his regime in particular. It is very positive to hear most European leaders standing in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. It is deeply concerning, of course, to see the approach taken by Hungary and the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has repeatedly vetoed collective support at EU level for Ukraine. Hungary has taken increasingly authoritarian actions within its own borders. I note that the Hungarian Government has recently banned LGBT pride. What can the Taoiseach say and do to stand up for LGBT rights with the Hungarian Prime Minister and to ensure that the EU holds firm, notwithstanding Orbán's position, in solidarity with the people of Ukraine? It is not just in Ukraine of course that we see democracy under threat. I recently attended a conference hosted by the Belarusian opposition. It was inspiring to hear Belarusian opposition leaders speaking out about the dictatorial regime of Lukashenko and the authoritarianism and suppression they face. Can we mark next Tuesday, 25 March? It is Belarus Freedom Day, and it is a day when democrats across Europe should stand in solidarity with the principles of democracy.
Sentiment score: 0.15
26. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent attendance at the commemoration for the liberation of Auschwitz. [7611/25]
Sentiment score: 0.00
I welcome the Taoiseach's recent attendance at the commemoration ceremony for the liberation of Auschwitz. It is particularly important as we see a rise in fascism and authoritarianism worldwide and a terrible rise in antisemitism. It is very important that the Taoiseach attended to represent Ireland. I always attend the commemoration in the Mansion House on national Holocaust memorial day and would urge parliamentarians on both sides of the House to do so. It is a powerful and moving event, which I attended this year on 26 January. I commend the Holocaust Education Ireland organisation that organises it. President Michael D. Higgins spoke at it and made a powerful, moving and sensitive speech. We in Labour condemn racism and antisemitism. Is the Government going to take action on hate speech legislation, which was parked, shall we say, during the time of the last Government? In the context of the disturbing rise in antisemitism and hate speech worldwide, it would be useful to reconsider that. On 16 January, the Taoiseach announced Ireland’s endorsement of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism. It is acknowledged that there are concerns about aspects of that definition. Did the Taoiseach instead consider the 2021 Jerusalem declaration on antisemitism, which includes a better definition of antisemitism drafted to address some of the concerns with the wording, which linked criticism of Israel with antisemitism. It is important that we have the right to criticise the state involved in bombarding civilians.
Sentiment score: -0.01
Mervyn Taylor-----
Sentiment score: 0.00