Tim Lombard (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the two Secretaries General to these very important hearings. My first question is for Mr. Moran. What is his view of the taxation system? Does he believe there are environmental goals attached to it? Do we have the vision to move to a low-carbon economy? In other words, what major changes are required in current policy to ensure we can make it more proactive? Do we have that vision in the Department and Government to work towards those issues?

Carbon will be one of the main issues we will discuss at these hearings in the coming weeks and months. The Climate Change Advisory Council made a submission on the price of carbon per tonne.

It was hoped it would come in at approximately €30 per tonne in the budget. It did not change, unfortunately. What will be the trend for carbon pricing in the next decade? There is talk of an increase to €80 per tonne by 2030. Will there be a yearly increase in the price or will it occur only on the final day? Do people believe it will increase to €80 per tonne by 2030? How do our guests envisage the gradual increases in the carbon price being made? How will we deal with fuel poverty and meet the concerns of people of economic need who, unfortunately, require fossil fuels at present? There are two elements to be balanced. This will be important so we can take society with us. I am concerned about how we can move to a low-carbon economy while offering support to those who need it. In the context of the price of carbon increasing to €80 per tonne by 2030, what timeline is the Department considering with a view to having a vision to drive forward? These are questions on which the Department needs to give us guidance.

Procurement is a major issue in the context of public expenditure. It has been a major issue across all Departments for a long time. The lowest-price principle is one we have discussed at several committees with a view to determining how to achieve the best value for money. Where will the environmental factors come into the schedule? The Chairman mentioned schools. The schools we built in the past decade all had oil burners, reflecting the lowest-cost syndrome we promoted in our economy. What will be the guidelines on this? Renewables are more expensive on the first day but there will be a long-term benefit for everyone. Even turning to a gas boiler rather than an oil boiler is significant. This all falls under Government procurement. From where will the vision come? From where will the review and changes come? The Chairman mentioned oil boilers being installed in schools in the past seven or eight years. Do we lack vision in this regard? Do we need to move to a different model of procurement?