Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their submissions and their answers. I was listening in earlier. I will focus on two brief points. In moving towards a low-carbon economy the commission is recommending the phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies. I am aware that the commission is looking at various options and alternatives there. This will put phenomenal pressure on people in some areas. I am trying to get a handle on where the witnesses would see how we could support those people and how that inequality would be dealt with. I referring to people in places where public transport is not an option. Connecting Ireland sets out a plan for rolling out upgrades on public transport but there are lots of areas where they have no ambition to extend public transport during the lifetime of the plan, and even where they do, one is looking at just a small upgrade. Realistically, being able to get to and from work is not going to be an option via public transport for many people under the current plan.

Similarly, for home heating, many people might be very keen to do the upgrades but they may not be able to afford it. An alternative option of switching over to a hydrogenated vegetable oil system, HVO, and running the home heating system much the same as at home might be a much more practical option for them. Have the witnesses looked at the taxation treatment of that option and where it could be availed of? How would the witnesses deal with those inequalities, if the commission is proposing to make changes in taxation for fossil fuel?

My second point relates to promoting public good public health and the widespread agreement on smoking and e-cigarettes, similar to the tobacco cigarettes.

One of the other big issues is in regard to obesity. If the witnesses have a particular angle on that, I would be interested to hear their views.