Government appoints 11-member Just Transition Commission

The Government has approved the appointment of 11 members to the Just Transition Commission for an initial three-year term.

This Commission will provide advice to the Government on how Ireland should ensure no one is left behind and the move to a climate neutral economy is done fairly and benefits everyone.

Part of its job will be to anticipate and inform long-term climate policy and investment planning.

It will also focus on the potential impacts, risks and opportunities arising from the climate transition for different sectors of the economy and society.

The 11-person membership includes nominees from the five pillars of social dialogue.

The remaining six members have backgrounds in areas such as human rights and equality, skills development, rural and community development, social inclusion, the green economic transition, and youth perspectives.

The Commission will be chaired by independent expert Ali Sheridan. The remaining ten members are: Vanessa Kiely O'Connor (Agriculture Pillar); Michelle Murphy (Community and Volunteer Pillar);
Conor Minogue (Employer Pillar); Oisín Coghlan (Environment Pillar); Ryan McKinney (Trade Union Pillar); Diarmuid Torney (Independent Expert); Evan Boyle (Independent Expert); Seamus Boland (Independent Expert); Suresh Kumar (Independent Expert); Tanya Ward (Independent Expert).

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, said the appointments represent an important milestone for Ireland’s climate policy. He said the Commission will need to be flexible and innovative, and that setting it up will ensure that climate policy does not become a divisive political issue.

"It will ensure that we are innovative, flexible and above all people centred in the way we approach this move to new green jobs, green agriculture and green transport," he said.

Chairperson Ali Sheridan said: "We have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to ensure that the transition ahead is a fair one. One that looks beyond emission reductions towards transforming our society and economy to thrive while meeting social needs and respecting planetary boundaries."