The Green Party was more interested in greenwashing the report than accepting its findings
Green Party leader Roderick O’Gorman must explain why a Green Party spin doctor put an independent state agency under pressure to edit a report on carbon emissions, according Social Democrats climate spokesperson Jennifer Whitmore.
“According to a report in today’s Irish Independent, the SEAI rewrote a report on carbon emissions after coming under pressure from Eamon Ryan’s spin doctor about “bad press”.
“The original report had stated a reduction in electricity emissions was largely down to importing more power – which is not counted in our emissions – rather than any domestic action.
“However, this was changed after the Green Party spin doctor contacted the SEAI to demand a meeting about “poor press” and negative narratives around the report.
“This raises major questions for the Green Party – as well as the SEAI. For a start, why is a political party contacting an independent state agency about “poor press”. This suggests the Green Party was more interested in greenwashing the report than accepting its findings.
“For ethical reasons, it is highly problematic for a special advisor to the former Green Party leader to put a State agency under pressure in this way.
“As a matter of urgency, Roderick O’Gorman must explain why his predecessor’s spin doctor felt empowered to put the SEAI under this kind of political pressure. He should also explain if Green Party staff or politicians have done this on other occasions and whether he believes it is appropriate.
“Serious questions also need to be answered by the SEAI. Internal correspondence, published by the Irish Independent, reveals an unhealthy and unwarranted preoccupation with government reaction to its report.
“The SEAI must now clarify if it met Mr Ryan’s advisor before it changed its report; if it has received other inappropriate correspondence from this, or any other, spin doctor or government official; and publish a clear outline of when and why a decision was taken to edit this report’s findings.”
11 November, 2024
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