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

I will not accept the amendment before the House, which has not been touched on in the debate. I am sure we will get to the issues raised on the carbon tax later in the afternoon. I want to inform Deputies that the amendment is on a different matter. We need to put it in context. The change in carbon tax to which we are referring is equivalent to an additional €1.50 on, for example, a 60 l tank of diesel. That is the sum change involved in it. I appreciate that for many people, that €1.50 and the carry through into the price of a bale of briquettes is something that can mean difficulty and hardship. I understand that. That is the very reason we have used the carbon tax to fund changes in social welfare allowances to support those who would be most affected by the increase in this tax. There is nothing radical or extreme about it.

We are recognising that we have a climate crisis on the way, on which I believe there is consensus in the House. We are looking to change the price of something which, when consumed, is one of the main reasons we have the level of harm being done to our environment that is being done. That is not radical. It is a responsible response to the great challenge we face. I am as aware as any Deputy who has spoken against the carbon tax of the hardship, difficulty and worry that is there regarding the effect of taxes such as this. This is the reason we have used one third of the money raised by the carbon tax to change those parts of our welfare payments that can help the most. That is why we have made this change.

With regard to the claims being made that this is an attack on rural Ireland, of course I understand the issues the Deputies are raising regarding the need for more support for rural Ireland but that is why we will be rolling out as quickly as possible a national broadband plan to connect more and more of our towns, villages and rural homes. I would have hoped we would have made quicker progress on it but it was disrupted by the pandemic. That progress will recommence next year. The very reason we have a national broadband plan is to put in place the investment in connectivity that can and will make a difference to the issues in rural Ireland that are being described.

The particular measure opposed in the section, which is on the introduction of the worldwide harmonised light-duty vehicles test procedure, WLTP, to which Deputy Naughten referred and on which he asked a specific question, brings in a way of testing the emissions of vehicles which is all about being more accurate and ensuring we can accurately measure the effect that vehicles and cars have on the environment. That is why this is being brought in. The old system we had did not do it. It was shown to be cheated upon. Now we are bringing in a new system that can accurately reflect and tax the effect of these vehicles on the environment.

With regard to Deputy Naughten's comment on the number of rates, during the debate I will get the answer to that question for him and in my next response to the Deputy I will inform him whether they have been published or, if they have not been published, when they will be published.

See this speech in context