David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In that spirit, I will keep my contribution to approximately two minutes in order to allow other Members in. I oppose the resolution on the basis that it includes an increase in the carbon tax. I wish to see this State and, indeed, this island become greener and cleaner, but I do not wish for that to be done at the expense of hard-working families, those who are in fuel poverty or those at risk of fuel poverty. The problem I have with the resolution and, indeed, the proposal of the Government in respect of the increase, is that if the increase in the carbon tax is locked in, it will be locked in for each year for several years, but what have not been locked in are the mitigating measures referred to by the Green Party in the course of the general election campaign.

I am especially concerned for those who live in rural Ireland. They do not have access to public transport and, as such, depend on the car. I am concerned about older persons who need to heat their homes, but will do so to a lesser extent if the Government keeps increasing the carbon tax. I am concerned that, once again, nowhere near enough funding is provided in the budget, despite some advances, for public transport, retrofitting and all the alternative measures which need to be put in place. I am afraid this carbon tax increase will hit many hard-working families hard. It will be a regressive measure. The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, has repeatedly stated it is regressive. Nothing in the budget that I can see makes this a progressive measure. It will hit the lowest income families hardest and that is something neither I nor my party can support. For that reason, we will be opposing this financial resolution.

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