Statement: Senator Bacik calls for Introduction of Climate Change Legislation

SENATOR BACIK CALLS FOR INTRODUCTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION

Statement from Senator Ivana Bacik

Labour Party Seanad Spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Thursday 7th October 2010

Senator Ivana Bacik today called a vote on the Seanad Order of Business to debate the Climate Protection Bill 2007. This Bill was introduced by Senator Bacik on October 2007 with the support of Friends of the Earth and other development and environmental NGOs. It sets binding targets on the Government for achieving reductions in annual carbon emissions. The Bill remains on the Seanad order paper and in October 2007 Senator Dan Boyle promised that Government legislation would be introduced with the same effect.

When the vote was called in the Seanad today, the proposal to debate the Bill was defeated by 26 votes to 18. The Independent, Labour and Fine Gael Senators all supported Senator Bacik's call but it was defeated by Fianna Fail Senators and the Green Party Senators who voted with the Government.

Speaking today, Senator Bacik said:

“A strong climate protection law is the best way to make sure all departments across government take this issue seriously and take action consistently. There is all-party consensus on this in both Seanad and Dail, as Deputy Liz McManus has pointed out, yet we are still awaiting Government action. Senator Dan Boyle has promised that outstanding issues on the bill will be resolved in two weeks time, but it is more than a year since the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Climate Change last met, and the legislation has now been promised for three years. We cannot wait any longer.”

ENDS