Election 2024

‘Biggest fights’ for Greens in government were on climate

O’Gorman makes remarks as free solar panels for low-income households feature in both Green Party and Social Democrats’ respective climate action election pledges

Green Party candidates, from left, Hazel Chu, Malcolm Noonan, Roderic O'Gorman, Catherine Martin and Brian Leddin at the party's climate plan launch in Temple Bar. Photograph: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire
Green Party candidates, from left, Hazel Chu, Malcolm Noonan, Roderic O'Gorman, Catherine Martin and Brian Leddin at the party's climate plan launch in Temple Bar. Photograph: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire
Cormac McQuinn
Thu Nov 14 2024 - 17:28

The “biggest fights” for the Greens in government were over climate and nature, according to party leader Roderic O’Gorman.

He made the remarks as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael came in for criticism at the launch of the Green Party’s election climate commitments.

In the days before the election was called, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael blocked a Green Party bid to bring an outline plan to Cabinet on plans for how the €3.1 billion climate and nature fund would be allocated.

Both parties took the view this was “premature” and decisions on how the funds should be used would be a whole-of-government one, rather than one based on proposals from a single department as had been the case with the blocked Cabinet memo.

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Green Minister Catherine Martin said on Thursday that the rival parties “showed their true colours” by thwarting her party’s effort to have Cabinet consider the matter and were “backtracking” on climate.

Mr O’Gorman said: “I think they’re hoping we won’t be around next time, and they’ll get to spend that money as they decide.”

He said the two larger parties in the outgoing Coalition had engaged with climate in “a much more robust way” than he felt they had previously but argued “it’s not front and the centre for them”.

Among the Green Party’s climate pledges are €1.2 billion to be spent on retrofitting public buildings including schools and hospitals to make them warmer and more energy efficient. Some €100 million would be spent to support the roll-out of offshore wind energy.

The party is promising free solar panels for 200,000 low-income households.

There is a proposal for a new system of low-cost loans for people purchasing lower priced electric vehicles (EVs). There would be a targeted EV grant to ensure the greatest level of support is provided to lower income households. The income threshold for eligibility for free solar panels and higher EV grants are yet to be determined.

The party also wants to make attic and cavity wall insulation free for all households.

Elsewhere, the Social Democrats outlined its climate action and nature protection plan.

Its environment spokeswoman, Jennifer Whitmore, argued that the outgoing government had “absolutely wasted their opportunity to deal with climate action”, accusing it of missing targets and failing to bring in “tangible measures” for communities.

The Social Democrats are promising a €5 billion climate transformation fund. There would be €200 million ring-fenced for research and development on offshore, floating wind power.

Ms Whitmore said solar panels would be installed on 500,000 homes, with free panels for low-income households. There would be a €1.5 billion fair transition fund to support the agriculture sector and the party would double the size of Ireland’s national parks.

The Green Party also renewed its call for a televised debate on climate change. On Thursday RTÉ gave no indication that it would hold such a debate. It pointed to radio debates dedicated to the topic and also said: “RTÉ will continue to cover the issue of climate change throughout our comprehensive election campaign coverage” including during the leaders’ debates and individual interviews.

Cormac McQuinn

Cormac McQuinn

Cormac McQuinn is a Political Correspondent at The Irish Times