Celtic Sea oil licence angers climate change lobby

The Irish government's decision to licence oil exploration licences in the Celtic Sea has been condemned by political and environmental groups who say it conflict with commitments to climate change targets:

“According to People Before Profit’s Brid Smith, today’s decision to grant the licence contrasts badly with Mr Bruton’s “lofty rhetoric on climate change”.

Ms Smith, whose Bill to limit the issuing of new licences is currently held up in committee limbo, said that the timing of the announcement was “especially ironic” during the stakeholder meeting with the “Government spin machine in full flow”.

In December, Ireland became the first country in the world to fully divest from fossil fuels with the passage of the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act tabled by Independent deputy Thomas Pringle.

“Today the Minister [for State] and Government have put the financial interest of a small elite ahead of our commitments to climate, the environment and the earth, it’s business as usual,” she said.”

Full report here at Green News ie:

https://greennews.ie/business-usual-state-issues-new-oil-e…/

Bernard Moffatt
Celtic League