Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

It is true that I was, and still am, an advocate of the fee-and-dividend model. At all times during the discussions of the joint Oireachtas committee at which we were focusing on how to protect people from fuel poverty, I said clearly that I would not rule out the hypothecation model if it could be designed and structured in a way that achieved the same objectives. I referred to the three-way split. Elements include the allocation of some €3 billion to increase social welfare provisions or other measures specifically to target people at risk of fuel poverty and investing particularly progressively in social housing and rental properties. The best way to address fuel poverty is to improve people’s homes. Another element is the allocation of €1.5 billion for an agricultural scheme, particularly aimed at small family farms. Census data or CSO data show this community is particularly left behind in the current economic system.

The measures being set out can address that social justice objective. As I have said throughout this process, that was the primary aim that we sought to achieve.

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