I am glad the Taoiseach is not here today. It is very important that he is representing Ireland at COP27 in Egypt today because it is vital that we see really strong leadership at national and international level on tackling the climate catastrophe. As COP has got under way, we have been hearing increasingly bleak prognoses from world leaders. We heard António Guterres, UN Secretary General, say we are on a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator. He is not mincing his words, nor is our former President, Mary Robinson, in her strong warnings this morning on radio urging far more rapid and urgent implementation of promised measures here and internationally. While world leaders have committed previously to keep global warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, far from achieving that we are on track to reach a 2.8°C rise by the end of the century, and eight of the ten hottest years on record have occurred in the past decade. If we miss our global warming targets, we will not have to wait long to see the consequences. We are already seeing them now, with devastating floods in Pakistan, the devastating famine encroaching on the Horn of Africa, the drought there and the excessive heatwaves in Europe. Here in Ireland, on a balmy, sunny November afternoon, we can see the consequences of climate change ourselves with the bizarre environmental impacts on our plant life, with real risks to our biodiversity and with unthinkable things happening in our environment and in agriculture.

The things we take for granted, like having land that is capable of food production, are now at real risk. We watched lots of horror movies during the Halloween season but I can think of nothing more scary than the immediate future facing us with this imminent climate catastrophe. The failure to take international action has generated cynicism among many activists, included Greta Thunberg, but the COP process is the only game in town. It is the only international forum where we can see world leaders come together to try to achieve change, even at this late date. The Labour Party believes in the power of that forum to take the necessary collective action but we need to see a resolve from our own leaders that is commensurate with the challenge. In particular, we need to see the Taoiseach stepping up along with the Minister and the rest of the Government to ensure we do not just set ambitious but necessary targets but deliver on the measures needed to reach those targets.

We are just over seven years away from the 2030 deadline. With the best and most constructive will in the world, it is impossible for many of us to see how we are going to reach our target of a 51% cut by 2030. We have missed targets, rising emissions, low investment in critical infrastructure and significant delays in generation of offshore wind capacity. Ireland is the second highest emitter of greenhouse gases per head of population in the EU so we need to see more urgent action. Will the Taoiseach show a commitment to the polluter pays principle so that those paying the highest price for climate change will see justice? Will he sign up to and promote the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty while he represents us at COP27 this week?

I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this issue, which is significant for our country and the planet. By now, the Taoiseach will have delivered his speech at Sharm el-Sheikh. I think he summed up very well the imperative of action and delivery. This is something he has pinpointed as being the key issue. Ireland has made significant progress in terms of the overall framework, putting legislation in place, the adoption of the climate action plan, the carbon budget and the sectoral emissions ceilings. A new climate action plan for 2023 will come before the Government shortly. Every line Minister will also bring forward a set of specific measures to give effect to all of those targets and set out exactly how we are going to achieve them.

This is not easy. We know it is not easy when it comes to transport policy, what our farmers are trying to do in terms of the transition they are buying into, the challenges in forestry, energy policy and everything we need to do but there is hope. The Taoiseach is right to highlight the importance of pointing to where we have made progress, while at the same time identifying that much more needs to be done.

I was struck by the latest report from Wind Energy Ireland which said that in October, wind energy provided 47% of the country's electricity. This is a real glimpse of the future when you look at the potential in Ireland for fixed and floating offshore wind energy. These latest figures mean that wind energy has supplied one third, or 33%, of Ireland's electricity demand this year to the end of October. It is one example but it highlights the potential we have as a country when we all put our shoulders to the wheel and focus on what needs to be done. In the years ahead, we can become a global leader in this space and a net exporter of energy to our neighbours in Europe. This is why investments such as the Celtic interconnector, which involves the development of an electricity connection between Ireland and France, are so important for this country.

The Deputy is correct to point to the amount of work we have to do not just as a Government, although it is incumbent on us to lead, but also as a people. I believe the Irish people will lead and deliver on the commitments we have entered into. I can assure the Deputy, the House and the Irish people that the Government will not be found wanting because the next generation and future generations will not thank us if we shirk this and do not deliver on our commitments to them.

One specific commitment we gave related to climate finance. The Government gave a commitment that it will increase from €93 million to €225 million over the next four years as a tangible manifestation of our commitment to supporting developing countries which, unfortunately, are bearing the brunt of the excesses elsewhere in the world.

I thank the Minister. He spoke of progress and of the potential for wind energy, but we have been speaking about this potential for a long time without having put in place the necessary infrastructure to deliver at scale on the sort of energy generation capacity offshore wind can provide. The Minister also spoke of the climate action plan 2023 and said it will go to the Government shortly. When is that going to come before this House? I ask because we have previously seen foot-dragging and delays in the production of necessary plans and in the development of the sectoral emissions targets. Often, these have not been brought before this House and the other House until very late in the day and at a time when we cannot give the plans the sort of adequate scrutiny required.

I was glad to hear the Minister speak of the Taoiseach's commitment to ensuring a solidarity pact with the Global South. This is hugely important. Can we, however, also see the Taoiseach promoting the non-fossil fuel proliferation treaty now being spoken of and being urged upon us by so many international groupings and activists worldwide as a key way to ensuring there is a mechanism at international level to ensure we will see the phasing out of fossil fuel reliance across the world?

The truth is that the real test is when it comes to the specific actions that have to be taken to deliver on the targets. These will present challenges and difficulties at local and national levels but we will provide leadership and we require support from across this House. I do not think there is any lack of opportunity for input from parties and Deputies in the House to allow them to contribute to how the climate action challenge can be met.

The Deputy raised the question concerning wind energy. The new body, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, will be up and running in quarter 1 of next year. We are actively recruiting a chair and a chief executive officer for that body at this point in time. It will, fundamentally, modernise and streamline the consent and licensing system in respect of offshore wind generation. This needs to be done to ensure it is delivered. A new planning Bill will also come before the House in the weeks to come. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and the Attorney General have been working closely in that regard. The truth is that this comes down to specific and tangible measures that demonstrate our real commitment. On days like this, words are easy but it is the follow-up and implementation where it gets difficult. That is the real test and that is where we can make great progress.

I remind Deputies to put their phones on silent.