Climate campaigners protested plans to include gas and nuclear energy on a list of environmentally sustainable economic activities outside the Dáil.
The European Commission adopted the EU Taxonomy Act in March to “boost green investments and prevent ‘greenwashing’”.
It still needs approval from Europe’s Parliament and Council.
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Campaigners including Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion have raised serious concerns about the inclusion of fossil fuel gas and nuclear energy, even with conditions.
On Tuesday afternoon, Irish environmentalists were among those in cities across Europe who protested the move as MEPs debated the proposal.
Manuel Salazar from Extinction Rebellion Ireland was among those protesting in Dublin.
He told us: “The Green Party and climate activists are against it but some European Parliamentarians from Fine Gael and Fine Fail are going to vote in favour, which is wrong.
“Gas and nuclear are not green. Gas is a dirty fuel and nuclear is also not an option when it comes to renewable.
“We are asking them to vote against that measure and use green hydrogen, solar and wind.”
MEPs have until July 11 to vote for or against the proposal, which was already rejected by MEPs in the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee and the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee.
Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher supports defining gas and nuclear as sustainable while his party colleague Barry Andrews MEP opposes the move.
Mr Kelleher said: “The inclusion of nuclear and gas is necessary in my opinion.
“Gas will be an essential component of how eastern European countries move away from coal and oil to renewables.
“It is a transition fuel and should be treated as such.
“It is a short-term measure up to 2030 with very particular criteria applied to ensure investments are future proofed, i.e. infrastructure can be used for hydrogen for example.”
Barry Andrews MEP said: “There is no doubt we are going to need these fuels as we try to get to carbon neutrality.
“The question is whether you label them sustainable. In my opinion this is completely unacceptable.
“One of the main reasons I’m very concerned about this taxonomy is that it has the potential to divert investment away from renewables.”
Fine Gael has confirmed four of their five MEPs will vote in favour of the EU Taxonomy.
Deirdre Clune is unable to vote as she is isolating with Covid in Ireland. Seán Kelly, Frances Fitzgerald, Maria Walsh and Colm Markey will cast their ballot on Wednesday, July 6.
Leader of Fine Gael in the European Parliament, Seán Kelly, said: "Given that many of our citizens highly depend on transitional fuels, such as natural gas, it is important we do not take decisions that would reduce investment and lead to higher costs.
"The green transition will not happen overnight and there needs to be fairness embedded into it."
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