Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

My perspective on this is that we should introduce a carbon dividend model whereby any revenue raised is returned to the citizen on a per capitabasis. We held a very interesting workshop in the audiovisual room here during the summer. We brought in Kathryn Harrison, a leading academic from Canada, to share Canada's experience; Cara Augustenborg, from UCD's school of environmental studies; Graham Caswell of Carbon Tide; and Barra Roantree of the ESRI. The analysis from that workshop showed that the carbon dividend model works and changes behaviour, although not as much as we might want. The change is marginal but not insignificant. It was shown to be the best way to address income inequality. It seems their analysis was clear on that. It would be done through a direct social welfare payment and a direct tax credit payment into the person's bank account. It would not be a cheque in the post, much as we like to get cheques in the post, but a direct payment. The Department of Finance told us that this was administratively doable and would be very cheap. All the data sets the Department has would make it viable at very low cost and pretty much straightaway. I am therefore very keen to see it as an option.

I was very pleased to read Ms Lynch's presentation and to hear her say of the ESRI analysis:

We examined the impact on total income inequality, and found that combining carbon taxation with revenue recycling actually reduces income inequality, relative to a business as usual scenario. This is in addition to the reduction in carbon emissions that comes about as a result of the tax increase.

Did the ESRI make a submission to the consultation process the Department of Finance held in the summer on this issue?