Ireland is "totally off course" in relation to meeting its climate change targets in 2020 and 2030, according to the Labour Party.

Spokesperson Kevin Humphreys accused Fine Gael of trying to spin away Ireland's climate change failures rather than "acknowledge a lot more needs to be done to tackle climate change".

He said: "Two years into this Government, Fine Gael have finally woken up to the Climate Change Advisory Council's warning that Ireland is totally off course when it comes to meeting our climate change targets in 2020 and 2030.

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"Over the next week we are going to see Fine Gael flog parts of the National Development Plan that deal with climate change under the guise of 'Green Week', while key Departments that can help tackle climate change such as the Department of Transport are failing in their responsibilities to tackle climate change. As reported last month, the Department of Transport, has spent less than 2% of money earmarked in their Green Public Transport Fund.

"The Labour Party has put forward a number of key practical actions which if we take now would significantly decrease Ireland's fossil fuel emissions while allowing our society to transition to a more equitable and green economy.

"Climate change demands systematic action from all areas of State and climate action needs to get communities, both rural and urban, all involved. We need to mitigate against the worst impacts of climate change while also adapting to a carbon-free world.

"It is now more important than ever that we in Ireland do not shirk from our responsibility on climate leadership."

(CD/CM)