Robinson urges Senators to promote need for climate change action

Former president Mary Robinson has urged Senators to use the Seanad to promote the need for action on climate change, which she said was still a “minority issue” in Ireland, despite its importance.

Mrs Robinson, who served in the Seanad for 20 years, was speaking at an event in Leinster House to launch the series of events marking the centenary of the Seanad, which first sat 100 years ago.

Reflecting on the Seanad’s role in giving voice to minorities and their issues, the former president said that climate “is still a minority issue - people don’t talk about it enough”.

“The Seanad can do more,” she said. “It’s an issue that the Seanad can raise on behalf of ordinary people.”

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The climate issue, Mrs Robinson said, “needs a constant everyday attention that the Seanad could give it.

“There’s an urgency about making this not an ‘expert’ subject but an everyday subject,” she said.

The event was also addressed by the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad Mark Daly, and the Seanad’s longest serving member, David Norris.

Mr Daly said that Mr Norris had often been the “sole voice for minorities” in the Oireachtas, pointing to his advocacy for gay rights, Travellers and other causes over his long career as a senator for Trinity College.

Asked why he ran in the first place, Mr Norris said: “I had seen Mary’s example and I thought there were things that I could do.”

He said his slogan was: “Vote number one Norris for an end to the quiet life in the Seanad.” Mr Daly said he had achieved some success in that.

Mr Norris said that his greatest achievement was “changing the law on homosexuality”, saying that it had “increased the happiness of people”.

The programme announced on Tuesday, entitled Minority Voice, Major Change, will run all year and includes an exhibition, lectures, a TV documentary, themed tours of Leinster House, Culture Night events and student debates to highlight the contribution the Seanad has made since 1922. There will be a 100th anniversary ceremonial sitting in December.