Fine Gael's Hildegarde Naughton has been named as the Chair of the new Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action.

The new committee is designed to focus solely on measures to be taken to drastically cut down on carbon emissions.

Deputy Naughton, who is Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, said: "We need to ensure that climate action is at the heart of policy making as a matter of urgency.

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"The Citizens Assembly have made far reaching suggestions as to what measures we, as a country, must take to tackle climate change.

"The Climate Change Advisory Council has been very clear. We are not doing nearly enough to decarbonise.

"This new Committee will explore all of the various options to make climate action the priority of Government policy and ensure that the appropriate action is taken as a matter of urgency."

(LM)