Last month, Minister for Climate Darragh O’Brien brushed off warnings from the State’s fiscal and climate watchdogs as “back-of-the-envelope stuff”. Brushing aside a sober, peer-reviewed analysis by the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC) and the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac) signals a troubling game of chicken with Europe over our climate obligations. The compliance regime is not a speculative fine that might never materialise – it’s a core part of the EU’s climate law. There is also a belief that because some other countries are also off track, Europe might look the other way. The forthcoming Climate Action Plan is the Government’s chance to prove it still takes its climate and fiscal responsibilities seriously.

Source: The Irish Times November 06, 2025 17:21 UTC