Irish Examiner view: Listening is an important precursor to change

It is worth recalling the words of US president Dwight D Eisenhower, who was fond of saying: 'Plans are useless but planning is indispensable'

War planes fly over the US cemetery during a ceremony to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the D-Day landings on Friday in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy. Picture: Thomas Padilla/AP

There was much proverbial gnashing of teeth and rending of raiment by environmental lobbyists when it was recently suggested that Ireland will miss its climate targets.

Ireland, as with many other states, has committed itself legally to transition to net zero by 2050. Financial penalties — to be paid to the EU — are put variously between €8bn and €26bn in an admonitory report from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and the Climate Change Advisory Council.