Climate change has real and profound implications for us here in Ireland and right across the world. Here in Ireland, as globally, it is most likely those on the lowest incomes and the poorest who will potentially pay the highest price. I think the Irish people understand that very clearly. Sometimes when listening to these debates, we might imagine that the Irish people are yet to be persuaded that climate change is real and we need to tackle it. I do not believe that is the case. Of course, there will always be a need to continue to highlight these issues but in my experience, people are more aware than ever. I see more enthusiasm for tiny towns, biodiversity projects and river cleaning than I have ever experienced. However, the frustration people have is that they feel their efforts are not only being undermined but being completely wiped out ten times over by the policies of this Government. The efforts that people make by recycling, reducing their energy and upgrading their homes disappear into a puff of vapour when compared with sweetheart deals that are being provided for data centres. We have the absolutely glacial pace of delivery of retrofitting and likewise with renewable energy. Of course, it is frustrating for people when they are making these efforts when they are trying to make decisions in their own life and they are seeing the effective subsidisation of these enormous energy consumers, such as data centres. We have some of the highest energy prices in Europe particularly when it comes to electricity and people are absolutely crippled with it. This affects domestic users and also small and medium-sized businesses. When I talk to the owners of small and medium-sized businesses about the pressures they face, energy costs are right up there and nowhere near enough is being done. What is happening with renewables is incredibly frustrating. We could have had the same debate ten years ago and we would be saying every community building and school across the State should have solar panels and they should be supported to do so. A comparatively very small number of them do, even though the appetite is there, because the Government schemes are not there to support it. Looking at the current crisis that we face, we are more vulnerable than most countries across Europe to rising oil and gas prices because of the Government's failure. Companies that have looked to invest in wind energy, particularly floating offshore wind, have taken their resources and invested elsewhere because the pace is so slow here. The Government is set to miss its 2030 targets by a country mile. The opportunities for Ireland are huge as well as our obligations in terms of reducing emissions. Tá deis dhochreidte ann, go mór mór timpeall an chósta, do phobail, do chathracha agus do bhailte ach níl an Rialtas ag baint buntáiste aisti. Níl sé sin maith go leor. Ordinary Irish consumers will pay the price and the planet will pay the price for the failure to deliver on renewables. It is totally inadequate.

Sentiment score: -0.01