Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 29 March 2023

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach

Finance Bill 2023: Committee Stage

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I know, but the Deputy acknowledged in our exchange that this would not be the end of it. I do not think even he would suggest putting the tax back up in October, but he definitely would not go ahead with the other increases in carbon taxes in October or May. It is not just about €57 million in the context of the overall public finances. Last year, we collected close to €800 million in carbon tax. There is a published paper showing the amount of financed expenditure from carbon tax this year is €623 million and how that money is broken down. Whether or not it is legally hypothecated, the money is tracked, it is all there and it is transparent as to where it is spent. The Deputy said a third of households in Ireland got no direct energy supports. That is not true. They got the electricity credit, four of which have been applied.