The Government has been slammed over its failure to tackle climate change in Ireland.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson Eugene Murphy said the contributions made to the Citizens' Assembly on climate change has highlighted how much work the Government needs to do to tackle the challenge.

He said: "As it stands, we are nowhere near where we need to be, and the recently published National Mitigation Plan does nothing to allay my fears that this administration is failing to grasp the seriousness of the situation.

"The plan lacks ambition and fails to set out concrete targets to reduce our emissions. Unless we start putting strategies in place to deal with climate change now, we are setting ourselves a much more difficult task into the future.

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"The effects of climate change are becoming ever more evident, particularly in relation to our weather. The most 'rain bomb' in Donegal, which has devastated parts of the Inishowen peninsula, is the most recent example, and it places a fresh emphasis on the need to invest in flood defence infrastructure and support property owners in affected areas. From flood insurance and emergency relief to ensuring full investment in capital flood defences the Government has to step up to the mark.

"The Government cannot shy away from its responsibilities on climate change. I look forward to reading the recommendations from the Citizens' Assembly later in the year and hope that Minister Naughten and his cabinet colleagues will ensure that they are fed into future Government policy so that the issue can be effectively tackled."

(CD/LM)