The Green Party has hit out at the Government over tackling climate change.

Leader Eamon Ryan TD accused the Govt of being "clueless" after Ireland was "named and shamed" at the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Awards ceremony in Brussels.

He said: "We need to shut down peat power stations as soon as possible, but the Irish midlands must not be allowed to become like the US and UK 'rust-belts'. The Bord na Mona announcement in relation to the Littleton factory is a prime example of how not to manage this process and clear evidence of why we need Government to provide well-ordered, long-term plans to justly transition these affected areas and workers to a low carbon economy. The end is coming for fossil fuel employment, and we cannot risk creating an economy where people are left behind. Communities cannot be abandoned in the move to a low carbon economy - the transition must be just as fair as it is fast.

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"We reiterate our calling for the remains of the PSO levy for peat until 2019 – €120m a year - to be re-directed into a fund that will pay for the re-training of workers over the next few years and providing job transition supports in the midlands. The Government needs to supply the midlands with viable, vibrant jobs in the green economy led by workers in the peat-plants and their communities."

(CD/MH)