Establishment of a stronger and more progressive national policy position on climate change is one of the highest priorities for this Government.  The reason is very simple – global climate change does not just threaten our national competitiveness or prosperity, it threatens our very existence.  Our temperate climate is seldom acknowledged as a national asset but the recent cold spell acted as a timely reminder of its importance to us as a society and an economy.  One only has to reflect on the vulnerability of our rich biodiversity and our world-renowned agriculture s

"The Climate Change Bill is flexible and pragmatic, and will help ensure we have a competitive and sustainable future for our economy and entire society" Mr Ciaran Cuffe, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment with responsibility for Climate Change said today. Speaking today (13 January 2011) following the introduction of the Bill to the Seanad, Minister Cuffe reiterated that the Bill was designed to ensure that our green and competitive agriculture sector continues to thrive and grow. 

Mr John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, and Mr Ciaran Cuffe, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment with responsibility for Climate Change, today (23rd December, 2010) published the Climate Change Response Bill 2010.  The Bill, which has been in preparation for the past eighteen months, is a legislative priority for the Government and Ministers Gormley and Cuffe will be seeking to progress it through the Houses of the Oireachtas immediately, with a view to enactment in February 2011

I am very pleased to respond to the debate on the Carbon Budget 2011 and I wish to thank the Members of the Opposition for their contributions.

Today is one of the most important days in the current Dáil term and one of the most rewarding days for the Green Party in Government.  We have debated climate change issues many times in this House but today we have laid the foundations to elevate climate policy to the level of a key national priority.  That Ceann Comhairle, is a milestone in terms of the future well-being and prosperity of the people of this country.

"Madame President, thank you for your sustained efforts to secure a positive outcome to the negotiations here in Cancun, and for the warm welcome provided by the Government and people of Mexico. Your constructive engagement with all Parties has created the right atmosphere for progress in these talks.

Ciarán Cuffe, Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, is representing Ireland at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change this week.  2011 is the UN International Year of the Forest and world attention at the UN COP 16 talks in Cancun this week is keenly focusing on the roles world’s forests play  in mitigating climate change as well as providing important long term economic, ecological and social benefits.

John Gormley T.D, Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government and Ciaran Cuffe T.D, Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Climate Change, today (8 December 2010) announced that they had secured new and additional Government funding of €23m in 2010 to help developing countries meet the challenges of climate change.

Minister Cuffe openeed the International Council on Monuments and Sites Symposium - Changing World, Changing Views of Heritage: The Impact of Global Change on Cultural Heritage on Saturday, 30 October 2010 in Dublin Castle Conference Centre.

Speaking on the occasion of World Food Day 2010, Ciaran Cuffe T.D. Minister of State with special responsibility for Sustainable Transport, Horticulture, Planning and Heritage today underlined the significant impact that unimpeded Climate Change would have on issues of global food security, emphasising that :

John Gormley T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and Ciarán Cuffe, T.D., Minister of State, with responsibility for Climate Change, Planning and Heritage, today welcomed the launch by the Oireachtas Joint Committee (JOC) on Climate Change and Energy Security of their second report on the need for climate change law in Ireland.