Fossil fuel exploration and climate science
Deputy Bríd Smith attacked the Government's climate approach and argued the Taoiseach was relying on flawed science. The Minister defended the decision to end oil exploration but continue gas exploration on scientific advice, saying gas will remain needed during the transition.
I never knew until this week that one could take a flight from Dublin to New York via Damascus. However, that is clearly what the Taoiseach did when he arrived at the UN summit to announce that he favoured banning the exploration of fossil fuels, or one fossil fuel, namely, oil. That is not possible. The Taoiseach received flawed scientific advice from the Climate Change Advisory Council and thinks he can do something he cannot. The only way to leave fossil fuels in the ground, which is what the movement is asking us to do and about which I am sure he heard them screaming right around the planet, is to allow the climate emergencies Bill I put before the Dáil to be passed. As the majority in this House has twice voted democratically in its favour, I ask the Government to issue a money message and allow the Bill to be passed. Otherwise, the Taoiseach's statement is hypocrisy, based on a Damascene conversion, which is no good to anybody. The Government must allow the Bill to be passed if it is serious about banning the exploration of fossil fuels.
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There have been strong calls in recent days to listen to the science and take climate action on the basis of scientific solutions put forward as ways of resolving these issues.
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Not flawed science.
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That is precisely what the Taoiseach has done. He and I wrote to the Climate Change Advisory Council to receive the best scientific advice. It has advised clearly that there is a case for ceasing the exploration for oil but continuing the exploration for gas. The reason is that as we transition from a figure of 30% to 70% for renewable energy and eliminate major polluting fossil fuels such as peat and coal, we will become dependent on gas when the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine.
The Climate Change Advisory Council has clearly cited the supporting evidence and we are going to act on it.
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It is flawed and not scientific.
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We will be ending the exploration for oil, but we will continue to allow exploration for gas. It would be relevant for Ireland if we could supplement the Corrib gas field from which there is a significant supply to meet our gas needs.
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The Minister could allow the Bill to be passed.