Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has accepted an offer from Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore to pair for tomorrow\u2019s no confidence D\u00e1il vote, meaning he will now not have to return home from COP28 in Dubai.<\/p>\n
Deputy Whitmore, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on climate and biodiversity, said:<\/p>\n
\u201cI am deeply concerned at some of the rhetoric at COP28, particularly the ludicrous claim from summit President, Sultan Al Jabar, that there is no science indicating a phase-out of fossil fuels is needed to restrict global temperatures to 1.5C.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is dangerous climate scepticism and enhances the need for Ireland to have continuity of representation at this crucial event.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe notion of Minister Ryan having to fly back from Dubai \u2013 and then immediately return to the summit after the no confidence motion \u2013 made absolutely no sense from a practical or environmental perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cRather than missing the talks for two days to return to cast a single vote, it is preferable that the minister remains at COP28 and ensures that Ireland\u2019s voice is heard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe devastating impact of climate change, which is happening right now, can be seen both here at home and around the world. With so much at stake, it is vital that the minister remains in Dubai to concentrate on the difficult, but critical, decisions that need to be made at this year\u2019s climate conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving regard to all of this, on Sunday morning I offered to pair with the minister. After discussing the matter with the Taoiseach and the T\u00e1naiste, he has now accepted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI, like my colleagues in the Social Democrats, have no confidence in the Justice Minister – and our party will be voting no confidence in Tuesday\u2019s motion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pairing will not impact the outcome of that vote. It simply means I will not be voting, so Minister Ryan does not have to fly home. Our votes will therefore cancel each other out.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe minister must now make his time at COP28 count \u2013 and ensure that ambitious targets are agreed and, crucially, resourced and implemented.\u201d<\/p>\n
December 4, 2023<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has accepted an offer from Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore to pair for tomorrow\u2019s no confidence D\u00e1il vote, meaning he will now not have to return home from COP28 in Dubai. Deputy Whitmore, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on climate and biodiversity, said: \u201cI am deeply concerned at some of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2370,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[405,268,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-climate","category-jennifer-whitmore","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n