Vol. 492 No. 2
57 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Finance his Department's contribution to date to the preparation of a pan-European taxation policy on carbon and fossil fuel inputs; the position adopted by his Department in these discussions; the proposals, if any, his Department has tabled in the context of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13677/98]
I assume the Deputy is referring to the proposals on energy taxation which the EU Commission presented in March 1997. That proposed directive suggests both increased taxes on items such as petrol and proposes new taxes on coal, gas and electricity. If he is, I would like to inform him that discussions on it are ongoing by technical experts reporting to the ECOFIN Council. No level of agreement on measures have been reached in those discussions. The draft directive would not apply outside the EU and is therefore not strictly pan-European.
My particular concern as Minister for Finance is to ensure that any measure which is advanced to promote energy saving does not adversely affect Ireland's international competitiveness. I am also concerned about the effect the imposition of any such tax would have on the Consumer Price Index and how the tax would impact on the less well off members of the community.
