‘Constant conflict’ within government over ambitious approaches to climate action – The Irish Times

There is “an ongoing conflict” within the government when it comes to introducing more ambitious approaches climate action, Green Party Leader Roderic O’Gorman has said.

The Minister for Children said it was a conflict that has so far been ‘managed’, with the three parties ‘able to work towards solutions’.

Speaking as he announced Senator Pauline O’Reilly as the Green Party’s elections director for the coming general elections On Tuesday, Mr O’Gorman said he assumed the public would go to the polls on November 29.

O’Gorman said his party is open to a return to government Happy Gael And Fianna Fail and had “not excluded any party”.

The Green Party leader also said his preference would be to publish the revised housing targets before the election and would like to see 53,000 homes built annually.

Mr O’Gorman outlined his party’s record in government over the past four years, saying that introducing “an ambitious climate bill” and introducing measures such as making public transport more affordable and modernization grants “ hasn’t been easy.”

“There was conflict at every step,” he said. “There have been conflicts within the government… There have always been conflicts within this government.

“It is a conflict that has been managed. We have been able to work and achieve solutions, but there has been an ongoing conflict in terms of pushing for ever more ambitious approaches to achieving our climate goals.

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“We have produced those with the lowest levels of carbon emissions in the last thirty years as our economy grows, but that is because the Green Party was in government, and when we are not in government that focus won out. ‘doesn’t exist.’

Mr O’Gorman said his party’s priorities in a future government would be to increase the level of leave available to parents during a child’s first year, introduce a public childcare model, cut carbon emissions reduce and ensure that half of the Apple tax fund is invested in public transport.

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Senator O’Reilly said being in government with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil meant we had to push very hard bipartisanship to get everything we could.

“Emissions fell by 7 percent last year. That wouldn’t have happened without the Green Party in government,” she said. “That’s what we want to do again: get involved again to make sure we achieve our goals.”

Senator O’Reilly said the Green Party had “extended our elbows” in government and insisted the land tax would be implemented.

“Without the Green Party, there would be constant developers sitting on land that could be used to build houses,” she said.

“That’s what it means to elect us, and what we’re going to people with is to say, ‘It looks like Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are back in the game. The question is: do you want them to be there in turn?’ own?’

“Do you trust that they will be there alone, or do you want a party that has the values ​​that you believe in, and that can go in and continue to extend our elbows?”