Richard Boyd Barrett Critiques LNG Plan and Public Transport Cuts
Richard Boyd Barrett challenged the government's climate credibility, questioning support for an LNG terminal in Shannon and condemning cuts to public transport funding and rising fares. He argued those policies undermine efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and risk steering public services toward privatization.
Main criticisms
Boyd Barrett opened by asking for clarity and expressing scepticism about the government's bona fides on climate. He argued the planned LNG terminal in Shannon would import "toxic fracked gas from the United States" and said it is inconsistent to ban fracking domestically while permitting imports of fracked gas.
Public transport evidence
He set out specific public transport concerns - fares have risen by 80% in the last 10 years, the public service obligation subsidy to Dublin Bus fell from 87 million to 50 million, and the Dublin Bus fleet is smaller than in 2008. He said these stark facts, alongside some of the highest fares in Europe, conflict with any genuine commitment to get people out of private cars and cut CO2.
Privatisation warning
Boyd Barrett argued that the pattern of cuts and fare increases "squares more with an agenda to privatize public transport," which he said would do nothing to reduce CO2 emissions. He pressed the government for answers on how its actions align with stated climate goals.
Government response and claimed actions
The Taoiseach replied in the transcript, stating that climate change is real and listing recent government measures - increasing the carbon tax, securing 500 million for a France-Ireland interconnector, restricting exploration of the state’s waters, ordering more rail cars to raise capacity around Dublin by 34 percent, approving a new national trail train control centre, removing coal and peat in favour of wind and solar, promoting electric vehicles and hybrid buses, changing building regulations for near-zero energy buildings, investing in retrofit, banning fracking and creating a climate action fund. The Taoiseach also outlined budget allocations for electric vehicle grants and charging infrastructure - £8 million to maintain grants, plus two further £3 million allocations for infrastructure.
Implications for the climate debate
Boyd Barrett framed his questions as central to whether government policy will genuinely reduce emissions or merely give the appearance of action. The exchange highlights tensions between infrastructure decisions, public transport funding, and the government's broader climate commitments as recorded in this debate.
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I think it would be helpful frankly if you just said that was a comment they were comments you regret but also I just really want to question your more general bona fides on this given the continued commitment to go ahead with the LNG the liquid natural gas terminal in Shannon which is going to import toxic fracked gas from the United States it's okay to ban fracking here I'm quite right likely because of the damage it does to the environment but we have no problem with visiting that among the people of the United States but I also just want to ask about public transport and your commitment in that regard I mean we've been having a series of meetings on bus connects over the last while and when you look into just the facts of public transport in this country you really have to wonder about the government's commitment to get people out of their cars I mean how is improving public transport how does that square with the fact the fares in the last 10 years in this country have gone up by 80% and that the public service obligation subsidy to Dublin bus has dropped from 87 million to 50 million a dramatic drop and that we have less buses in Dublin bus fleet than we had in 2008 how do those facts stark facts about the poor state of our public transport system and its high cost one of the highest fair terms for anywhere in Europe how does that square with a commitment to improve public transport get people out of private cars and reduce CO2 emissions I put it to you it doesn't it doesn't and it squares more with an agenda to privatize public transport which will do nothing to reduce CO2 emissions first of all I just want to stay at the outs I stayed at the outset just in case anyone anyone has any doubt about us climate change is real it is happening right now it is man-made and it is unprecedented and it is detrimental to human life and well-being both Ireland and both in Ireland and globally and any benefits that may arise from us are far outweighed many times over by the damage it's doing and will do I did say that last Thursday as well and that is why we're taking action just take the last few weeks alone we took the decision to increase the carbon tax not a popular one but one that everyone is serious about climate action no has to be part of the solution we secured 500 million to build an inter interconnector between France and Ireland so we can sell our wind energy to Europe we decided to restrict exploration our waters we ordered more rail cars which will increase capacity on our rail services around Dublin by 34 percent the Lewis capacity expansion is underway with the new national trail train control centre approved we decided to take coal and peat out of the energy system in favor wind and solar we're promoting electric vehicles and changing the bus fleet to hybrids with the new building regulations to make sure new buildings are near-zero energy buildings we're investing in retrofit we ban fracking we set up a climate action fund funded by a levy on the oil industry and that's just a start just a few of the examples of things that the government that I lead has practically done in the last couple of months to bring about climate action which is something that we we and I am very serious in relation to what I said on Thursday I'm happy to clarify as Sunday Business Post said it was an observation wasn't a policy statement or anything like that and I can see how it was open to misinterpretation by those who may be pursuing a climate sceptic agenda but I would like to put it into a little bit of context the document we were launching was this document health climate change sectoral plan published by the Department of Health and on page 14 it says the following it is also important to note that there are a number of health benefits projected to occur as a result of climate change for example warmer weather may reduce the risk of cold related illnesses and death and may potentially improve mental health and well-being and increase physical activity levels this is a scientific and evidence-based document which said with seven pages of scientific references and citations backing up what it said and I'd also draw members attention to the 2015 climate change act an act introduced under leadership of Alan Kelly by the Labour Party when they were in government it's an act that all of us voted for section five of that act requires the government in our national national adaption plan to avail of any positive effects of climate change that may occur so Alan Kelly the minister at the time and people who voted for that legislation in the house not only believed that there may be positive effects of climate change he also wrote it into the law and made a requirement that the government take it into account in our adaption plans and I don't think anyone would argue that Alan Kelly or Eamon Ryan or the environmental NGOs or Michael Martin who all supported writing that into law are somehow Donald Trump or climate change deniers will be the same if we move we move on to the next questions and on the electric vehicles I'd have to get to that okay if there is one I have to get I get it for you but okay I think it's fair to say that that there's there's the plenty of targets that don't necessary have an evidence base behind them but okay but their emissions but there are emissions. Switching to electric vehicles is an important part of the low-carbon transition. The government will continue to help individual motorists who want to make the switch to an electric vehicle. We have allocated £8 million in the budget to maintain grants at their current level for individuals purchasing electric cars. This is in addition to DCA planned expenditure. A further £3 million will be provided for new electric vehicle infrastructure, and an additional £3 million has been allocated for investment in new electric vehicle charging infrastructure. This includes additional funding towards the cost of installing on-street charge points, the expansion of home charging scheme, and the provision of funding to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to roll out fast charging points to taxi ranks and transport hubs around the country. I think I was asked about Smokey Coal and extending that ban. I believe, as I explained before, we have very strong legal advice from the Attorney General that that is legally fraught, because burning turf and briquettes and burning wood actually does as much damage to our air quality as burning smokey coal. We do not believe that we would be able to stand that up in court were we to do it. People will be aware in towns like Enniscorthy, for example, and you only have to go there and smell the air. A huge part of what is happening there when it comes to air quality is the burning of peat and briquettes, and in Dublin it's largely down to diesel cars.
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