Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy made reference to international evidence and the opinions and views of experts. I will quote our expert in this area, namely, the chairman of the Climate Change Advisory Council, Professor John FitzGerald. He stated:

A massive body of evidence from across the world shows that carbon taxes are essential. There are very few carbon tax deniers in the economics community. A recent statement by a large number of American economists, including 27 Nobel prize winners, identified carbon taxes as essential for the US and the world.

I am well aware of the impact any change in carbon pricing can have on those who are vulnerable. I am well aware of the impact it can have on those who are on low incomes and find themselves in a vulnerable position, but I am equally aware of the body of international evidence that states changes in the pricing of carbon are an invaluable way for economies to respond to the existential challenge of climate change. Sinn Féin has form in that regard. It is a party that supports the broadening of the tax base, but it is against the local property tax. It is a party that supported investment in water infrastructure, but it is against water charges. It is a party in which inconsistency and hypocrisy are embedded in how it handles policy issues. What will it state to the young people who are out protesting? What will it state to those children who left their schools last week, all of whom are looking for significant change? All of the experts in this area advise that an element of that change needs to be how we can evolve the pricing of carbon in the future. Let me re-emphasise what I said before and what the Taoiseach said in New York yesterday. Any move in carbon pricing, if it is agreed to by the Government and supported by the Dáil, is one that will ensure all the revenues will go back to helping those who are in need in the country owing to that change and towards helping the economy to invest in the kind of change that is essential to enable us to deal with climate change. What will the Deputy say to all of the communities and people who are looking for progress and leadership? Yet again, Sinn Féin pretends it can happen without any change or cost.

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