Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I share many of the Deputy's perspectives on that. There is a bit of a contradiction at the moment between the intra-European position, the wider international position and the gap there. Part of that is that we need to have climate ambition but there is also that mismatch between the existing emissions trading system and, of course, CORSIA. I acknowledge some of the concerns in that regard. It probably gives an unfair advantage to central European flag-carriers that do very long-haul flights with a lot of business class seats. When we take the punters we all represent who want to go on their holiday to wherever they are going within Europe, there is a higher threshold when it comes to the European system. That is something that exists. I have reflected it internally within the Department and elsewhere. I share the Deputy's concerns around that.

As for what we can do about it, the emissions trading system is in place. The purpose within Europe was to bring Europe to a point of ambition to try to allow the international context to follow, which is important. If we had that international level of ambition, it would be a fully clarified level playing field. The European Commission is going to review this and will report by July 2026 to assess the environmental integrity of CORSIA, which is the international piece. If it has not been strengthened sufficiently, then a legislative proposal to apply the emissions trading system to all departing flights will be put forward for discussion, which would give a greater level playing field compared with the mismatch we have at the moment.

On the wider energy taxation piece, that file on the energy taxation directive is being co-ordinated by the Department of Finance. As others have said, we have to protect our international connectivity as an island nation within that for tourism, trade, business and all the reasons of which members are all very well aware.