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De Brún to give evidence to Environment Committee on Climate change

Published: 30 April, 2009

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún will give evidence on Climate Change to the Environment Committee before the end of this session of the Assembly.

Environment Committee Member, Sinn Fein's Cathal Boylan MLA said:

"The assembly Environment Committee today agreed to hear evidence from Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún on the issue of Climate Change. I was, however, disappointed at the partisan stance adopted by unionist members of the committee supported by their Alliance colleagues.

"Unionist and Alliance members would only agree to the invitation to Bairbre de Brún giving evidence if it was deferred until after the European Elections. The Sinn Féin MEP has participated in various European Parliament sponsored Climate Change conferences in different countries in recent times and has a wealth of information to impart to the Assembly Committee. The knowledge that she has acquired through her work on climate change in Europe and further afield could be invaluable to the deliberations of the Assembly Committee and the sooner it hears her evidence the better.

"Unfortunately Unionist and Alliance members in fear that her evidence could advantage her in the forthcoming elections would only agree if it was after the election. I suppose accepting their objections in a positive manner it could be construed as an endorsement of Bairbre being re-elected."