Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly this afternoon criticised the fact that he was the only person in the Dáil chamber for a debate on climate change.

Mr Kelly began his speech on climate change with a scathing attack on the Trinity Treaty, the Fianna Fail-Fine Gael deal on forming a government, labelling it "the greatest example of student politics at its worst".

He said "maybe pints with the people are more important than the world's poorest to Fianna Fáil," as there was no mention of climate change in the document.

"There was one major issue missing from the text of the documents. Like the response we have to the debate here today where nobody has turned up, the major issue missing from this document is actually climate change."

Alan Kelly was not impressed at being the only TD in the chamber for Dáil statements on climate change.https://t.co/I6DR8wekNR — RTÉ News (@rtenews) May 4, 2016

Mr Kelly also criticised those on the left who he said are probably against Irish Water's energy tariff reduction, saying the required investment for Irish Water to reduce its energy usage was now in doubt.

He said there is unequivocal evidence that the climate is warming, with the lives of millions in danger.

He said Ireland's contribution will be reflected in the EU's commitment to lower emissions and the long-term vision demands real and meaningful change.