The Government continues to sleepwalk towards massive climate costs and fines, according to Social Democrats climate spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore.
Deputy Whitmore said:
“Ireland faces €13 billion in annual bills by 2050 as a result of missing our climate targets.
“Last month’s heatwave, which scientists say was only possible due to excess fossil fuel use, claimed hundreds of lives and put intense pressure on public services and infrastructure across the continent. Without a major shift, these extreme weather events will only get worse and their outcomes more extreme.
“Minister Darragh O’Brien has already admitted that Ireland will not meet its climate targets by 2030. He has waved the white flag and seems to have no ambition to do anything to address this.
“Quite the opposite. Yesterday, he rammed through two pieces of legislation which could have seriously damaging impacts on our climate – one of which locks us into more fossil fuel infrastructure and use for decades to come.
“This abject failure to properly plan is not confined to the government. State agencies are also culpable. Today, it was announced that the ESB is unable to manage the use all of its public EV chargers at the same time. Meanwhile, it now costs more to charge a car at public charging stations than to fill a car with petrol and diesel.
“This is a farce – but nothing about it is funny. We seem incapable in this country of even doing the basics, the bare minimum, when it comes to helping the public to make climate transitions that they are willing and eager to make.
“While the government will miss its 2030 targets by a country mile, the Minister has expressed confidence that substantial and rapid reductions in our emissions will be seen from the early 2030s onward, once offshore wind power is added to the national grid.
“Given this government has presided over a collapse in off-shore wind, with none being generated currently, and their shameful inaction in other areas, this is difficult to take seriously.
“By kicking the climate-action can down the road, the Minister is shifting responsibility for reducing our greenhouse emissions onto the next government.
“We need leadership now, not excuses. Instead of raising the white flag and accepting failure, it’s time for the government to get real about our climate emergency.”
July 1st, 2026