Dublin MEP Ciarán Cuffe has denounced the Taoiseach’s failure to address the climate challenge in his speech to the National Economic Dialogue this morning, accusing him and his party of adopting a ‘head in sand’ approach to tackling climate breakdown. The Taoiseach’s speech about ‘A more shock-prone world: challenges and opportunities for Ireland’ failed to address the greatest ‘shock’ or challenge facing Ireland and Europe right now, beyond a passing reference to the Greens’ climate and nature fund.

“Our new Taoiseach just doesn’t get it. Fine Gael’s policy of pressing pause on climate action is dangerous, delusional, and damaging to Ireland's green future. It’s disappointing, but not surprising: we have seen this time and time again with Fine Gael, at home and in the European Parliament, where their political group regularly teams up with Europe’s far-right to kill green laws and stall climate action. Our Taoiseach needs to do better and show leadership, not a head-in-sand approach, at this time of crisis.”

Cuffe further emphasised that any discussion of Ireland or Europe’s economic forecast that does not refer to the context of ecological breakdown, biodiversity loss, and damage to nature is not credible at best, and delusional at worst.

"Ignoring the ongoing threats to our climate now will only end up costing us more in the long run. Ireland should be facing these challenges head on and not shirking from our responsibilities. The only way to do that is to keep going green.”