Climate bill blocked in committee

Summary

Deputy Boyd Barrett accused the Government of blocking the climate emergency minerals Bill to protect fossil fuel interests. The Chair repeatedly intervened and suspended the House amid disorder, while the Tánaiste later said the Business Committee had agreed the sponsor should bring forward a motion in Private Members’ time.

Richard Boyd Barrett People Before Profit-Solidarity

In a cynical and, frankly, despicable effort to protect the interests of the fossil fuel industry and oil exploration companies, Fine Gael and its Independent Alliance colleagues are abandoning their promise in the programme for Government to take "radical and ambitious action to deal with climate change" in which regard they said they would be world leaders. Simultaneously, they are sabotaging the democratic process of the Dáil to prevent Deputy Bríd Smith's Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) (Climate Emergency Measures) Bill 2018 to progress, notwithstanding the fact that it was passed overwhelmingly by the House. The Bill seeks to ban the issuing of further exploration licences for gas and oil exploration in Ireland. This is an abandonment of the Government's so-called commitment to deal with climate change as well as a very serious abuse of the democratic processes of the Dáil.

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Seán Ó Fearghaíl An Ceann Comhairle Fianna Fáil

The democratic processes have laid down the time available on these matters and I am afraid we are not adhering to it.

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Richard Boyd Barrett People Before Profit-Solidarity

No. When Deputy Michael Lowry, Senator Michael McDowell, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, Deputy Seán Canney and Senator Joe O'Reilly are used to block a Bill and hold it hostage - many are Senators - notwithstanding the fact that it was passed by this House, to prevent it from progressing further, it is an abuse of the democratic process.

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