Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The discussion is useful but perhaps questions from a few members could be taken at once as all the witnesses are replying to each question. We can carry on as we are otherwise.

There could be a correlation between a reduction in income tax and increased carbon tax, and changes in habit and behaviour. The big concern about that relates to low income households. If somebody is earning less than €24,000 a year, they are not in an income tax bracket while the majority of pensioners and all those on disability allowance, for example, do not pay income tax. Part of the solution in this respect is to retrofit their homes but they often are in the coldest and hardest to heat homes. Unless it was front-loaded, I do not see how an income tax reduction would work. It should be borne in mind that half of the workers in the State who get up early in the morning, according to the Taoiseach, earn less than €28,000. There is another cohort on social welfare or whose earnings are less than the minimum wage of approximately €19,000. Tax reductions would also have to be front-loaded for retrofitting their homes. The retrofitting will be deep because many of them are in the oldest of houses. How will that dichotomy be resolved? If it is not, a huge section of the population will be driven into fuel poverty, which nobody wants. I agree that the tax code will have to change. All the witnesses can respond to that question.

I said in this room and in the Dáil four years ago when we took the climate action Bill that the lack of binding sectoral targets in the legislation would be a fatal flaw. Do the witnesses feel binding targets are needed at this stage? The projected increase in agricultural emissions is between 4% and 5% over the next 18 months while it is between 10% and 12% for transport emissions in comparison to 2015. The projection for the non-ETS sector is between 4% and 6% below 2005 levels whereas the minimum target reduction should be 20% by 2020. Given that we are way off the targets at this point, how do we achieve acceptance of the need for binding sectoral targets?

RECAP addressed the energy mix going forward and Mr. Sadlier might like to elaborate. He mentioned Stanford University research and it is useful to reference that. Currently, I can go home and plug in my electric car but the power I am using to charge the battery could be generated by coal, peat or a nuclear plant. We have to change the sources of power quickly. What is the ideal energy mix over the next two or three years? What are the main obstacles and opportunities in this regard? I agree with Mr. Sadlier that the conversation should be about the opportunity and not about there being a problem The conversation needs to be turned on its head. What are the immediate steps the State needs to take to make progress over the next two or three years? I agree with everyone that the State's record is shameful. Some of us predicted this. When the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 was going through, I said that we would hit a carbon cliff and now there is a high one in front of us with no planning done to address it. The Government is just drifting and hoping everything will be all right.