An "all of government" environmental plan is to be published by the end of March.

The announcement was made following a climate change summit in Croke Park, hosted by the Climate Action and Environment Minister.

Environmentalists, farmers and business leaders have been discussing ways to improve Ireland's poor performance on climate change action.

Speaking earlier, Minister Richard Bruton said the whole country needs to get behind action.

He suggested that Ireland needs to have a "moment" of realisation when it comes to climate change.

Minister Bruton explained: "We have to achieve that moment when people say 'yes, I want to be part of this'.

"We also need to make sure as policymakers that they can have trust in the information they're getting, and that they get support along the way... and those who are worst affected are protected."

He added: "This is a huge endeavour - but it's not one that we're facing just as politicians alone."

Meanwhile, the Green Party claimed it's time for Fine Gael to "stop talking about their concern" over climate issues and start doings things.

The party's climate spokesperson David Healy said: “If Fine Gael are in any way serious about tackling climate breakdown they must work immediately to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

“If the government want to know what leadership on this looks like they should consider France. Once the French signed up to the Paris agreement they stopped exploration for oil and gas.”