North Cork Fine Gael Councillor John Paul O’Shea has praised the ‘passion and enthusiasm’ of young students around Ireland after they took to the streets on Friday, March 15th and called for greater action to tackle climate change.
Cllr. O’Shea said climate change is the biggest challenge faced globally and credited young people for making their voices heard on the issue.
His government colleague, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Richard Bruton TD, also welcomed Friday’s demonstrations saying that “the decisions we take now will define the next century and the voices of our young people must be heard.”
The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD, also recently supported the school strike, saying: “They are children, pupils and students telling all of the adults in all parties to get their act together and do more about climate change because it is their future that is in jeopardy.”
Cllr. O’Shea said: “I have been in the United States during the school strikes and demonstrations where, as in Ireland and around the world, young people have been leading the calls for governments to do more to tackle climate change. It is a pressing issue and it is heartening and vital that our young people are fully engaged with it. They are going to be the leaders of tomorrow and it is they who will feel the full effects of climate change unless more is done right now.
“I know that many schools across Cork took part in demonstrations on Friday and did so with real passion and enthusiasm. In our government, the Oireachtas Cross Party Committee on Climate Action is chaired by my colleague, Hildegarde Naughton TD. Through this committee, Fine Gael is working with colleagues across the Oireachtas to review the entire State response to climate change and to find innovative solutions to this global challenge. The Committee is due to report in the coming weeks.
“Minister Bruton is also currently developing an all of government plan to make Ireland a leader in responding to climate change, which will be published shortly,” Cllr. O’Shea said.