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

Given the concerns the Senator had regarding the impact of this measure on families and hard-pressed businesses, if she is proposing that on top of the change in carbon tax we should also equalise taxation between diesel and petrol, that is quite an argument to make. Many businesses, taxpayers and families are facing challenges at the moment. It is not an argument I would make or something I would do. The Government went ahead with increases in carbon taxation despite all the pressures. To overlay that, as I now understand the Senator is proposing, with an immediate or gradual equalisation of tax on petrol and diesel, given the pressures we have just discussed, is not something I would support. We should not do it for now. In fact, it runs the risk of undermining the case for putting up the price of carbon.