The Green Party has said Ireland is increasingly being shamed in the international community for its lack of action on climate change.

Leader Eamon Ryan made the comments after Budget 2017 failed to address funding for public transport projects.

Mr Ryan said: "This budget makes things worse. There is no increase in overseas aid. There is no funding for major new public transport projects and no mention of investing in cycling and walking as more sustainable and healthy transport modes. There is no effort to reduce the sales of Diesel cars and no new initiatives to set Ireland on the path to being a clean economy.

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"It was a relief to come back to a Dáil, where there were some real choices about where additional resources were available. The pity is that the Government and Fianna Fáil seem to have no vision as to how that money could best be spent. There are many small improvements, which are of course welcome, but there is no strategic direction and the sum total risks returning us to a boom and bust business cycle."

(CD/LM)