Climate change fines
Deputy James Lawless asked what financial provision had been made for expected EU fines over missed climate targets. The Taoiseach said no provision was made because he expected no fines next year, with any fines arising only from 2020.
We have heard today about the Government's poor performance on climate change targets. I will not repeat the environmental and moral issues raised by Deputy Eamon Ryan. There is also a financial consideration. The Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment has established that fines for failure to reach those targets could be in the amount of €1 billion to €1.5 billion. What financial provision has been made in the Finance Bill or elsewhere for the fines that will inevitably accrue from the Government's failure to meet those targets, which it has again admitted this morning?
