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

It is telling and hopeful to hear other Deputies have the courage to make the case for carbon taxing. Some made the case that they think it could be done differently but at least they are making that case. The Rural Independent Group has brought forward proposals with no idea of how much they would cost and ignoring the fact that through our tax code there is already relief in place for some of these costs.

I look forward to hearing the response of the Rural Independent Group. To bring forward a proposal for a mini-budget with no idea of how much it would cost or how it would be paid for is not only a lack of help to those who need help the most, it is an insult to them. The Rural Independent Group is accompanied in this by Sinn Féin. Following on from its Deputies' contributions last night and again this morning, I can only reach the conclusion that Sinn Féin either does not get the climate challenge and crisis, or chooses to be dishonest about it. I would not yet go as far as to say that Sinn Féin is a climate change denier but I would make the point that fundamentally it is dishonest about the choices and difficulties that are involved in responding to it.

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