Dublin South West TD, Seán Crowe, has congratulated all those students who went on strike to highlight the need for greater action on climate change.

The Sinn Féin TD said the number of Irish students striking across the country was in the tens of thousands and it delivered a clear and powerful message to the Government that Ireland’s inaction on climate change won’t be tolerated by our younger generation.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“This direct action taken by students all across our country should send a very clear signal to Ministers in Government that younger people have recognised the critical issues facing their generation, have decided to act, and to make their voices heard.

“As future voters, but more importantly those who will inherit the climate conditions in the future, they have every right to inform this Government about what direction they want to see Government policy moving towards. The global student strike which was called by the 16 year old schoolgirl Greta Thunberg, who began striking outside the Swedish Parliament last August, has gathered incredible momentum internationally.

“Students from schools all across Ireland joined the global Schools Strike for Climate Action. Marches were organised in Dublin and Cork and there were events outside local authority offices in counties from Kerry to Donegal and Meath to Galway.

“Fridays for Future, School Strikes 4 Climate, and the Schools’ Climate Action Network were the three student-driven networks of young people in Ireland, whose schools support them in their decision to strike for action on climate action.

“On 6 March I met a group of 40 students from around Ireland in Leinster House to discuss their demands with TDs and Senators at a briefing hosted by my colleague Senator Máire Devine in advance of the strike.

“I applaud these students for taking such a stand and leading from the front, we now need to see that support turned into action by the Government.”

ENDS