Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Maughan. This meeting is confined to two hours so I propose that each member be given two minutes to address their questions to the witnesses, to ensure that all members get an opportunity to pose their questions. Is that agreed? Agreed. If members will indicate, I will call them in order. As there are no indications yet, I will go first. I have two questions. One is in respect of your final comments, Mr. Maughan, on the carbon tax. Is this an either-or situation or would it be the case that this climate fund could co-exist with the carbon tax, the schedule of which is planned through to 2030? He might elaborate on that.

Second, perhaps he could give some clarity on how an ETS for transport and buildings might work. It is not particularly clear to me. I am quite familiar with the ETS that has been in existence for a long time at this point. It is very much about incentivising the end user to reduce emissions and reducing a cap in that market gradually over time. That has been successful, but I am not clear how it would work where it is essentially the producer or fuel suppliers, as I read it, that would be required to operate in this new proposed ETS. Perhaps he would elaborate on how that might work versus the existing system.