Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

For all the climate measures in the budget today, we are still completely in the dark about what it will achieve in terms of emissions reductions. Renters in particular are no better off in terms of knowing how private rental accommodation will be retrofitted and how the split incentive can be addressed.

It is disheartening to see the disconnect between today’s fiscal budget and the carbon budget to be announced later this month. Earlier this year, a report by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council stated that our climate change targets need clear costings and revenue raising mechanisms. I have no doubt the disconnect is because of the decision to accept last-minute amendments to the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill in this House, which have delayed the carbon budget process.

We also have no idea what the climate impact of the measures announced today will be. We could do with taking a leaf out of the Scottish Government’s book and assessing the carbon cost of all the measures in the budget. Greater transparency around the emissions associated with Government measures would clarify the debate around getting a whole-of-government approach. For example, if we had proper carbon assessments of the Fine Gael, Green Party data centre policy, it would become clear that it is costing billions in tax write-offs for such centres to set up here. This comes at a huge cost, not only to the climate and environment but also to electricity bill payers through the PSO levy.

As we know, fiscal policy is climate policy. The budgetary process is so important in implementing change in terms of how we spend or do not spend and how we tax or forgo tax. I hope the Government takes steps to integrate its fiscal budgets with its future carbon budgets.

I will now focus on a few measures in the budget in the context of the climate and biodiversity crises. We face a biodiversity crisis. Indeed, we declared a biodiversity emergency just over a year ago but one would not know it from listening to the Ministers in the Dáil today. Biodiversity was not mentioned once by the Minister for Finance or the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Worse, there was no additional allocation for the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, which is at the forefront of the biodiversity crisis. Sinn Féin supports the NPWS being put on a statutory footing and would have increased its budget by €5 million this year. The lack of any reference to the biodiversity crisis does not bode well in terms of the urgency to establish a citizens' assembly on biodiversity. We still have no date or funding allocation for it. In fact, the Government recently admitted in response to a parliamentary question that it has not even agreed the terms of reference or the scope of such an assembly.

I welcome the Minister for Finance's expansion of the accelerated capital allowance scheme for energy efficient equipment to include machinery powered by renewable hydrogen. Hydrogen undoubtedly has an important role to play in our energy system but we do not need a piecemeal approach to it. We need a fully thought-out approach but unfortunately Ireland is one of only two EU member states that does not have a full strategy. If we want investment in this sector, we must have a plan to encourage such investment.

I also welcome the additional spending on animal welfare. However, I wish the Government had gone further because this was a missed opportunity to make real change. I am glad to say that Sinn Féin’s alternative budget promised 20% more for animal welfare organisations, which are on their knees. Only today there were further reports of shelters having to turn away animals due to a lack of capacity.

We know politics is about choices. The choices Governments make reveal their priorities and those priorities were laid bare today. What does this budget do to tackle sky-high rents, unaffordable childcare or a health system bursting at the seams? There was nothing in today's budget for renters; nothing at all. There is no tax break or rent freeze. Renters are forced to suck up the increased costs of energy while tax breaks for landlords are extended.

Another clear example of the Government's priorities is in the changes made to the tax bands. Moving the standard rate by €1,500 costs the Exchequer €312 million. This tax break will only benefit 24% of workers yet it will more than double the estimated annual cost of returning the State pension age to 65. It is clear where this Government’s priorities lie. It is time for a new Government that puts the interest of ordinary people first, a Government that is in touch with the cost of living crisis that we currently face, particularly those in the rental sector who have been left behind once again.