Brazilian cab driver rents apartment to Ireland's Ambassador to Brazil during COP30

Gerard Couzens

A Brazilian cab driver has said he has moved into his mother-in-law’s house so he can rent his apartment out to Ireland’s Ambassador to Brazil during COP30.

Uber driver Alberto Souza claimed he was initially offered the equivalent of €485 a day in Brazilian Reais for a fortnight's rental in his apartment in Belém.

But he told Brazilian media the offer was upped to nearly €9,000 for a longer stay.

Mr Souza also said that Irish embassy officials had requested "100 per cent" cotton sheets and pillow cases due to a polyester allergy, and “good quality” toilet paper.

Mr Souza, whose home city of Belém is hosting the UN climate conference from Thursday until November 21st, did not name Martin Gallagher in his admission about his apparent VIP lodger.

Mr Souza told a Brazilian media outlet: “Someone got in touch about two months ago. They said they were interested in looking at mine and my neighbour’s place to see if they were suitable to host an embassy.

“We didn’t know at the time what embassy it was, but the following week they said it was the Irish embassy."

Speaking about the tenants' stipulations, Mr Souza said: “They asked for mineral water to be left for them, an iron and ironing board, hair dryer and the best-quality toilet paper possible.”

He went on to describe his neighbourhood of Tapana as a “quiet neighbourhood”, whose only downside was the rush hour traffic and the distance to COP30 conference.

Mr Souza said that some of the money he will make will go towards paying debts, while he is looking to invest the rest.

“If people think it's a negligible amount, that it won’t make any difference, they’re wrong," he said.

“For the people of this city, especially, the moment we are living today is a financially delicate one, so this money will indeed make a difference.”

The 30th UN climate conference will bring together world leaders, scientists, non-governmental organisations, and civil society to discuss priority actions to tackle climate change.

It will focus on the efforts needed to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees, the presentation of new national action plans and the progress on the finance pledges made at COP29.

As reported by the Irish Examiner, the Taoiseach will deliver a speech today to call for "political leadership" on climate change, using Ireland's experience with Storm Éowyn to highlight how "climate change is a reality right now".

He will also claim Ireland is on target to increase international finance for climate measures to €225 million this year, as it committed to do at COP26 in 2021.

Mr Gallagher, a Lisacul, Roscommon native, said after being appointed: “Brazil is home to a small but vibrant Irish community, which I look forward to meeting in the months ahead; supporting our citizens, particularly though the provision of consular services, is at the heart of our mission.

"Ireland is also home to a large, and growing, Brazilian community, which has fostered Brazilians’ already strong affinity with Ireland."

“Ireland and Brazil are also countries deeply committed to shared values - from climate action to championing human rights to global food security. As Ambassador, I look forward to building on these shared values in the months and years ahead.”

The members of Cabinet representing Ireland at COP30 this year are Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Minister for Climate Darragh O’Brien, and Minister of State for International Development Neale Richmond.

Ireland will also send a team of civil servants.

Mr Martin said before leaving Ireland: “I will be going to Cop30 in Brazil with the clear message that Ireland remains steadfast in our commitment to tackle climate change.
“Our overall emissions have been reducing for several years, which is heartening, but we need to do more and do it quicker.”