The Green Party has announced it is to work with new Oireachtas Climate committee to help draft the new National Energy and Climate Plan by the end of this year.

Leader of the party Eamon Ryan welcomed the Government's admission that the current National Climate mitigation plan is failing and has to change.

Mr Ryan said: "We have to start thinking about how we get to a zero carbon economy by 2050, not just how we meet the interim 2030 target. The short term thinking of the current Government must come to an end.'

"In the interview with the Irish Times the Minister admits that his plan is not working and in the next breath repeats the tired arguments for continuing current policy.

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"If we are serious about tackling climate change then we would shut the peat fired power stations right away. We could then give Bord na Mona the task of deep retrofitting one million Irish homes which will create a whole new generation of secure well paid jobs.

"If we are serious then we should stop the installation of fossil fuel heating systems in any new home and match the new Californian ambition to have a 100% renewable power system in place by 2045.'

"If we are serious about electrifying our transport system to use and balance all that local clean power then we would be putting in charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

"Rather than building 63 new motorways and national roads we should be putting more money into walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure.

"Rather than polluting our land, water and air to allow multinational companies profit from the Chinese baby milk powder market, we should be devising a low carbon national land use plan.

"Rather than building ever more incinerators we need to build a new circular economy that cuts out waste at source."

(CD/MH)