Bríd Smith TD has described comments from Junior Minister Sean Canney as “extremely worrying” regarding the future exploration for fossil fuels in Ireland. The comments were made by the Minister while addressing delegates at the Atlantic Ireland exploration conference in Dublin.
The Minister effectively pledged Government support for future exploration for gas and oil in Ireland. He criticised a proposed Bill (Petroleum and Other Minerals Development (Amendment) Climate Emergency Measures Bill 2018) from Bríd Smith of People Before Profit that would ban future licencing for exploration saying it would do nothing to reduce Ireland’s emissions.
Bríd Smith responded by saying that the new Minister has simply repeated the same misinformation and denial of his predecessor.
She said:
“He is ignoring the science, he is ignoring the reality of climate change and he is ignoring the most recent IPCC report and our commitments to the Paris Treaty. It is, in fact, this Government that will do nothing to reduce our Co2 emissions.”
The TD said that Canney’s comments were depressing in light of the recent IPCC report which gave the world 12 years to make serious cuts to global emissions.
“Is the minister denying the fact that 80% of proven reserves of oil and gas must remain in the ground to give us any chance of stopping catastrophic climate change? Or is he just saying that doesn’t concern him?
The TD condemned the minister for acting as a cheerleader for fossil fuel exploration companies who “don’t give a dam about the climate or facts. If found and if produced, any gas and oil in the Irish state will add to global emissions, will lock us into another 50 years of fossil fuel dependence and will crowd out renewable alternatives, the minister’s ignorance is breath-taking”.
The TD added that the Climate Emergency Measures Bill will proceed through the Dáil regardless of the Government’s opposition and that it had huge support from many people across the country.
