Eamon Ryan says viral stories about him were 'utter nonsense'

Mr Ryan said that certain stories about him, including an online rumour that a Garda had been dispatched to Limerick solely to bring his bike, were part of a misinformation ecosystem around climate action

The Environment Minister has hit out at "utter nonsense" stories about him which have gone viral.

Speaking to journalists before Christmas, Eamon Ryan said that he would be working this year to engage with people who are sceptical of the climate change plans he and the Government have put in place but said that misinformation on the issue was a problem.

He said that he and his advisers would sit down with farming groups to outline how carbon farming and other measures could be done, while admitting that the Climate Action Plan has "uncertainties".

Mr Ryan said that certain stories about him, including an online rumour that a Garda had been dispatched to Limerick solely to bring his bike, were part of a misinformation ecosystem around climate action.

"There were some stories out there. I was down in Limerick and that the garda car came with the bike. Utter nonsense and it went viral.

"There's another story in the midlands and Offaly. That I was responsible for someone losing their bike franchise. It was absolutely accepted as gospel. Complete and utter nonsense, untrue.

"There is an issue at the moment in the disinformation, viral world where “what is the truth where does the truth lie?” And you won't counter that.’ "It's hard to know. I'm not going to be going on Twitter and fighting away and battling back against that. I think you have to invest in good quality journalism as the antidote to it. But that is a problem like the disinformation and the kind of conspiracy theories that are out there is a real part of the thing we have to challenge, have to meet.’

Asked if he believes some politicians carry out disinformation on the climate, Mr Ryan declined to point fingers.

"I won’t point the finger at any one person, but you just have to look online and see what the some of the some of the commentary is. It's really toxic, which doesn't connect with the public in my mind.

"That’s not reflective of how Irish people are.

"I fear it could become so if it continues to dominate, so you have to counteract that, but I don't think we start out by pointing the finger at other politicians. That wouldn't be our style."