Dev and Collins drafted in to battle climate change

The spirit of Michael Collins and Eamonn de Valera is being summoned to help encourage the public to play a role in combating climate change.

Much like the issues of emigration and independence faced by the country over the generations, Minister for the Environment John Gormley believes that taking action on reducing our carbon footprint is every bit as important as other historical movements in the nation's past.

At Dublin's Mansion House the minister defended the use of the historic footage of the images of Collins and Dev to summon public help in a drive to generate public support for action on climate change.