Sir, – The Government’s decision to allocate just a couple of hours on Tuesday to debate two major pieces of legislation with serious implications for Ireland’s climate commitments, public finances and local communities should alarm every member of the Oireachtas and the public.
The plan to “guillotine” the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve (LNG) Bill and the Dublin Airport (Passenger Capacity) Bill through all stages of the Dáil represents an extraordinary attempt to avoid proper parliamentary scrutiny of legislation that could lock Ireland into higher emissions for decades and see us renege on our legally binding climate obligations.
The LNG Bill could involve almost €1 billion in public investment in a gas terminal in Co Clare, with no comprehensive assessment of its full climate, biodiversity or environmental impacts.
At the same time, lifting Dublin Airport’s passenger cap from 32 million to 40 million passengers would, according to the Dublin Airport Authority itself, increase aviation emissions by around 24 per cent.
Legislation of this magnitude deserves detailed scrutiny and full parliamentary debate. Instead, the Government is intent on ramming both Bills through all stages of the Dáil before the summer recess.
The timing could scarcely be more contradictory. Ireland and Europe are experiencing record-breaking heat induced by climate change, and this week Ireland assumes the presidency of the Council of the European Union, promising ambitious leadership on climate.
If the Government believes these Bills are in the national interest, it should welcome rigorous parliamentary examination rather than seek to curtail it.
This is not simply about two Bills. It is about an undermining of democracy which should not be measured by how quickly legislation can be passed.
The Oireachtas should never be reduced to a legislative conveyor belt simply because the parliamentary calendar is running out. Rushing complex, climate-significant legislation through the Oireachtas weakens our democracy and diminishes the role of elected representatives. – Yours, etc,
DEIRDRE DUFFY,
Chief executive,
Friends of the Earth Ireland,
Dublin 2.