Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I refer back to a point Deputy Mairéad Farrell raised about the Green Party policy on carbon tax. The carbon tax and dividend model was shown by the ESRI to be the most progressive method of introducing a carbon tax in order to induce the behavioural change required to reduce emissions. That is Green Party policy but that is not what was agreed in the programme for Government. What was agreed was the hypothecation of the carbon tax in a number of areas to retrofit homes throughout the country, starting with those most at risk of fuel poverty and the most poorly performing housing stock. It was also aimed at social protection measures to protect those on lower incomes who are most vulnerable to the cost of the carbon tax. The third leg is agricultural supports, to which Deputy Denis Naughten referred, to assist and support farmers to sequester carbon and protect our environment, as well as schemes like the rural environmental protection scheme. Those factors are built into the carbon tax model. The ESRI was tasked with looking at and researching our recent budget and it showed that this was the most progressive and supportive model for families on lower incomes. In that regard, our carbon tax is progressive.

I, too, share the concerns about data centres and how power-hungry they are. They are being drawn here because of our cool climate, which is attractive to them, as well as our reasonably secure power supply. Earlier today, the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage discussed the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill, which will result in a massive increase in offshore renewable energy and build resilience into Ireland's energy supply. We must move away from fossil fuels, which create carbon emissions, which are the problem. I just wanted to make those points in response to the points raised by Deputies Mairéad Farrell and Denis Naughten.