The European State of the Climate report released today shows that Europe is the fastest-warming continent on Earth. From the Mediterranean to the Arctic Circle, the Earth is heating in ways that are no longer subtle or gradual, with forest fires, destructive storms, heatwaves in the Arctic and snow cover in Europe that was 31% below average in March. We know that islands, like Ireland, are particularly vulnerable. We need to start delivering real measures to support people to move away from fossil fuels.

In doing so, we will reduce energy costs for households. At a time of a global energy shock, inflation looking to surge and fuel and energy prices rising astronomically, we know moving to renewables with the renewables revolution will significantly reduce household costs as well as reducing carbon emissions. Can the Taoiseach say how his Government will address this new and really alarming finding from the European State of the Climate report? How can we deliver that renewables revolution?

I agree 100% with the Deputy in the sense that this is an existential crisis. I have noticed that, in the House, there seems to have been a drop in the contributions on climate in terms of political discourse. That may be due to other events. Ireland now has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions in 35 years. It is important to point that out when you look at the extraordinary increase in population. There has been a concurrent increase of about 1.5 million people over that 35 years. There has been more than 1 million new homes and over 1 million extra vehicles on our roads, and we still have the lowest level of greenhouse gas emissions in 35 years.

This suggests that we can have economic growth and reduce emissions. This is the direction of travel and we have to rededicate ourselves to the issue.