Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I hear what the Deputy is saying, but the collection of carbon taxes is a key ingredient of our climate plan. It is no good having a plan unless we raise some money to cover it. I understand the technical point the Deputy made but, in an overall context, there is no point in having a plan to reduce carbon emissions and then saying we will not have any tax specifically for that purpose. It is important that the people know they are contributing. The majority of people generally support the moves to decarbonise Irish society and the move to renewable energy, especially offshore wind, and solar, but they know it costs money. They know we have to raise taxes. To do everything the Government does we have to raise taxes. I understand the point the Deputy made and that is why we have had a series of measures to mitigate the cost of what is coming in on 1 May.

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