Results 5,041-5,060 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: We are spending €130 million next year. We are not as big as the United States but that is a fair percentage in comparison. We will not stop there. We are going to 100,000 houses per year and we will meet the public sector buildings targets, which equate to a third of an improvement in energy efficiency in the next ten years. That will require massive retrofitting.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The €130 million - which the ESRI has indicated we should put back into the economy - is real.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Half of that is for social housing to keep the poorer people in our country warm and healthy.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The second indication from the ESRI on a carbon tax-----

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: -----is that revenue should be used-----

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: I want to finish my point. The revenue should be used to reduce labour taxes-----

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: -----so that we end up taxing the bad and not the good.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: The revenue we are raising from a carbon tax would allow the Minister for Finance to reduce PRSI for people coming off the dole. It is exactly as the ESRI recommended. The ESRI also recommended that VAT should be reduced and we have again done that with some of the carbon revenue raised.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Finally, with regard to protecting those on lower income, the Minister for Finance has given a commitment to introduce the initiative on solid fuels and other heating oils, the fuel allowance will be increased on a vouched basis to cover the cost so those in fuel poverty will not be affected.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: In any rational analysis of the best economic advice we have had for ten years in advance of this, we can check if we have done what economists believe we should. We have invested in energy efficiency that is leading the world.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: We have invested in reductions in labour taxes, which it was argued we should, and we have reduced VAT with some of the revenues, as it was indicated we should. We will protect those in fuel poverty.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: Does the Deputy have a question?

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: If the representatives going to Copenhagen are serious about climate change-----

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: -----they cannot stand here today and say "No" to putting a price on carbon.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: That is a dishonest approach that shows the party does not have an environmental objective in its message.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: It shows the party is treating this as a political issue rather than as a policy.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: We are in the process of developing our insulation schemes.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: As I have signalled quite often-----

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: There will be an obligation on our utility companies to do that work.

Financial Resolution No. 2: Excise (Mineral Oil) (9 Dec 2009)

Eamon Ryan: We will introduce a save-as-you-pay scheme. The up-front cost will be carried by the utility company and the work will be paid off as the person saves.