Mr. Joseph Curtin:

I thank Deputy Eamon Ryan for his comments. I am not here to try to sell a carbon tax. I am here to try to sell a reduction in income tax. If this is an argument that the committee finds convincing, then perhaps this is how the committee can sell it to the public also.

On systems change, hundreds of thousands of homes in Ireland still use oil in their heating systems. No other country in Europe can believe that this is the case in Ireland. When we consider the countries that have achieved systems change, for example home heating systems in Sweden, it has a much higher carbon tax than the level I propose. A carbon tax makes every incentive that needs to be given to decarbonise the economy more attractive. I am not disregarding the need for other measures and carbon tax is not a silver bullet. I am a strong believer in the need for a whole range of measures. Government cannot just come forward with a carbon tax, wash its hands and say that it is mission accomplished. Carbon tax has to be at the core of a climate strategy, but it is only one aspect.

Deputy Ryan referred to electric vehicles. Ireland was out of the blocks quickly on electric vehicles when Deputy Ryan was the Minister for the Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Since then, however, Ireland has made no progress in putting in place an effective charging network for electric vehicles. A carbon tax will not solve that problem. It will not solve every problem but it is an essential component of an effective climate strategy, and it is something we can do immediately in budget 2019. There is no reason why it should not be part of budget 2019.