Citizen's Assembly hears how people can make their homes more energy efficient

Latest: A meeting of the Citizen's Assembly on climate change in Dublin is hearing how people can make their homes more energy efficient.

Citizen's Assembly hears how people can make their homes more energy efficient

Update 4.53pm: A meeting of the Citizen's Assembly on climate change in Dublin is hearing how people can make their homes more energy efficient.

The 99 citizens as well as a panel of experts are gathering in Malahide Castle to discuss policy changes the government can implement to reduce carbon emissions.

When it comes to housing, Dr Brian Motherway from the International Energy Agency says progress is being made.

"We're doing quite well on the new homes we've built. If you build a home today and you meet the building regulations, it would use less than a third of the energy of the average Irish home.

"So we are making real progress there, assuming we are enforcing the building regulations and assuming people are trained with the right skills.

"It's moving quite well towards much lower energy homes," he said.

Earlier: The Citizen's Assembly is meeting again in Dublin today to consider how Ireland can become a leader in tackling climate change..

The weekend is a chance for those in attendance to hear from a panel of experts, before making policy recommendations on how Ireland can lower its carbon emissions.

We are currently on course to miss the target of reducing them by 20% by 2020.

At yesterday's meeting, climate change expert Joseph Curtin from the Institute of International and European Affairs said Ireland still had a long way to go in dealing with the issue.

He said: "we are not doing our fair share in this country. We have failed to deal with this challenge over the last 15 years.

"If we want to be climate leaders, let's begin by doing our fair share. And then maybe we can have another Citizen's Assembly in 10 years time and see if we're ready to become leaders."

The 99-member Assembly has been considering the 1,200 submissions it received. After a second weekend of debate, members will vote on recommendations to the Government on November 5.

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