The Government’s approach to climate change has been piecemeal and insignificant considering the scale of the challenge facing Ireland.

Fine Gael has big plans to tackle climate change at home. We want to make the big changes so that we can fundamentally change the nature of the Irish economy to transform it into a low carbon one. We believe that a low carbon economy is a competitive economy. Those countries that can make themselves more environmentally sustainable will have the edge over others.
  • The Government’s record of transforming the Irish economy into a low carbon economy has been atrocious. Recent reductions in emissions have only been achieved from the collapse of the economy. There has been no significant improvement in our energy-consumption patterns.
  • Government policies have not made a dent in the €6 billion worth of fossil fuels we have to import every year to feed our cars, homes and electricity grid. This is neither economically nor environmentally sustainable. In addition, Ireland will face serious energy security problems if these imported supplies are disrupted.
  • This €6 billion of imported fossil fuel also represents 64.7% of all carbon emissions in Ireland.
  • Over 42% of all of Ireland's carbon emissions comes from energy industries and the transport sector which are the sectors Government have had little success to date in reducing emissions from.
Fianna Fail and the Green Party have promised big changes to Government policy to tackle climate change but their own internal divisions and lack of vision have meant that actions to date have remained piecemeal and insignificant when faced with the challenge to meet Kyoto and EU emission reduction targets. Bicycle schemes and tinkering with light bulbs is only a drop in the ocean. Fine Gael wants to implement ambitious, but well considered, policies to radically change the nature of the Irish economy.

Fine Gael Plans
  • Fine Gael produced its NewERA economic stimulus plan response to the environmental and economic challenges confronting the Irish economy. Our plan will transform the Irish economy into a modern, sustainable and clean economy. It is first major credible step in transforming the Irish economy while creating 100,000 jobs in the process.
  • The €18 billion investment programme will see significant State intervention to rapidly invest in:
  • Energy: This is the massive investment kick start the renewable energy sector has been waiting for and will result in new investment in the electricity grid and a restructured semi state energy sector. We are committed to Government leading the way by using domestically produced biomass to heat and power public buildings which currently use €300 million worth of imported fossil fuels. Communications: Irish broadband speeds remain far behind our economic competitors and urgent investment in roll out of fiber optic based broadband is necessary if we are to develop as a clean knowledge economy.
     
Relevant Documents:  
NewERA