Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Climate change, air quality, environmental matters are at the top of the agenda for debate, particularly the proposal for a national smoky fuel ban, which is a live issue and rightly so. Approximately 28% of the population of the country experience fuel poverty and they need to be adequately protected. I suggest on this day of recess that the Minister consider substantially increasing the fuel allowance in the next budget. I also suggest that the VAT differential between the 8% on coal in the South versus the 5% in Northern Ireland would make substantial savings, particularly if the Government is contemplating introducing a carbon tax, which would cause further problems.

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