Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 17 June 2021

Committee on Budgetary Oversight

The Cost of Climate Action: Discussion

Mr. Seán McCabe:

I am happy to come in. I agree completely with the Deputy on his first point about the transition and the need to not do contradictory things that confuse people. We need, in all instances, a subsidy-first approach. We need to help people before we hurt them. The carbon tax is a good example of that. We need to make sure that we manage the carbon tax in such a way that people are not put into fuel poverty. On the Deputy’s last point, where he mentioned sacrifice, I do not think this is a sacrifice. It comes down to how we view it. As I said previously, it is the most unparalleled opportunity for stimulus across the entire island, if we get it right. The financial conditions are right to do it. We can do it. It does not have to be on the back of the farmers. In fact, if we do it right, the farmers will prosper from it.