Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Nov 1998

Vol. 495 No. 7

Written Answers. - Taxation Policy.

John Gormley

Question:

377 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance the progress, if any, made to date by the inter-departmental committee on green taxation; and the degree to which the work of this committee is helping to bring Irish taxation policy, in particular, into line with the legal binding international obligations in the field of environmental protection to which Ireland is a party. [21331/98]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The input of the committee to which the Deputy refers will be examined in the context of the preparations for the forthcoming budget.

I am not aware that Ireland has any legally binding international obligations in the field of environmental protection which require the implementation of specific taxation policies, while accepting that fiscal instruments may have a role in complying with those obligations.