Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney will be quizzed on the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2023 at an Oireachtas committee on Wednesday (Feb 22)
The Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action has invited Mr Coveney, a former marine and agriculture minister who would be familiar with the implications of these aspects of the plan, to come before it.
The plan outlines what it terms a “viable pathway” to achieve a 51% reduction in Ireland’s overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and net-zero emissions no later than 2050.
While agriculture is one of the main focuses, the plan seeks to bring measures that will also affect fishing vessels and benefit the marine environment.
It aims to manage land to protect “climate, biodiversity and water”, Minister for Marine Charlie McConalogue said when the plan was published last December.
Cathaoirleach of the Oireachtas committee, Green Party TD Brian Leddin said: “The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 provides that ministers come before the committee to discuss their department’s role in implementing the measures and achieving the targets set out in the climate action plan”.
“Over the coming weeks, the committee plans a series of such meetings. This week we look forward to meeting with Minister Coveney to discuss the actions of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in relation to the 2023 Climate Action Plan, and related matters,” he said.
The Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action have 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.
The meeting in Committee Room 4 at 5.30 pm today (February 22nd) can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
