90. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the amount of carbon emitted in the State in each of the past ten years. [26603/26]

Sentiment score: 0.09

This Government has signed Ireland up to a number of binding carbon targets which carry enormous fines for the taxpayers of this country. Will the Minister and Ministers of State provide an update on where Ireland stands with regard to those targets and on the potential fines that this State will face in 2030?

Sentiment score: 0.04

It is really important that the Government understands that the targets Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have signed the Irish taxpayer up to carry with them significant fines. According to the Climate Change Advisory Council, CCAC, and the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC, the fines involved range from €3 billion to €28 billion. The Minister of State has responsibility for this. I am asking him about the fines. What are the factors that will determine whether we face fines of €3 billion or €28 billion? The Government is accountable for this. It signed the Irish taxpayer up to these incredible fines. Where are we in relation to this? What are we likely to pay in fines? What cost-benefit analysis has been done? What are the Department's current projections in relation to these fines?

Sentiment score: 0.04

A responsible Government would be able to answer basic questions on the fines that we are going to face and that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael signed us up to. The Minister of State mentioned significant progress and stated that policies are in place. Policies should have been in place before the Government signed us up to these measures. We have been laggards in relation to this. In fact, when the Government signed us up to these targets in 2023, it accepted an increased target of 42%, when Ireland was already missing its original target of 30%. What was the basis for that decision? The Minister of State talks about responsibility. I am asking him basic questions. Can he outline the level of fines we will face? Is it going to be on the lower end, at €3 billion, or the higher end, at €26 billion? What are the factors that will determine that? What are the policies that the Government is implementing today? I ask the Minister of State to give an update in relation to this.

Sentiment score: 0.10

No, the fines-----

Sentiment score: -0.30

Not the rhetoric, the fines.

Sentiment score: 0.00

Answer the question.

Sentiment score: 0.00

What about IFAC, the climate advisory council and the €26 billion? Has the Minister of State no idea? Come on.

Sentiment score: -0.10