Protestors picketed Leinster House on Tuesday calling on politicians to act on climate change and reducing carbon emissions by 2030.
The protestors asked the government to work on reversing biodiversity loss and reducing greenhouse gas being released into the atmosphere.
The Extinction Rebellion movement held the protest in which they aimed to put light on the climate emergency which they described as “laughable Government inaction.”
The protest was planned to take place at the same time as the Climate Emergency Measures Bill was brought before the Dáil by Bríd Smith TD.
The Bill aims to amend the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act which limits issuing licenses for the exploration and extraction of Irish fossil fuels.
It was set for Committee Stage yesterday but the Government said it needed a “money message” to allow for it to pass.
The Extinction Rebellion said that the money message is “just the latest piece of procedural trickery used by the Government to block a piece of legislation that was voted for by a majority of our elected representatives.”
Those who protested dressed in all white and held red flowers to give the impression of innocent children.
Others dressed as ‘politicians’ poured a blood-like red syrup over themselves to represent the violent fate facing future generations unless action is taken.
A third group dressed in green overalls cleaned the ‘blood’ to show greenwashing by the state.
Protests like these are coming to light after international scientists warned that a climate disaster will be irreversible in 12 years if action is not taken.
Leading Extinction Rebellion activist Sue Breen said the declaration of the climate emergency was “laughable” and the “ultimate hypocrisy.”
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan told The Irish Times: “It is one which does threaten extinction and this sort of grass roots protest can help to change public consciousness about the issue.”
