Vol. 503 No. 6
78 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has for including the issue of green taxation in future negotiations in relation to a successor to Partnership 2000 in view of his comments in a newspaper (details supplied) on 21 April 1999; the discussions, if any, he has had with the Department of Finance on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10818/99]
Speaking at the opening of an ICTU Conference on 20 April 1999 on energy, environment and sustainable development, I confirmed my view that the fiscal system must contribute more towards sustainable patterns of production and consumption. My Department participates on an ongoing basis in an interdepartmental group on green taxation, chaired by the Department of Finance. Arising from its work, and from a recognition of the need to put in place an agreed indirect tax policy which will assist us in meeting our international obli gations on CO2 emissions, my colleague, the Minister for Finance, indicated in his Budget Statement in December 1998 that the formulation of such agreed policy measures would be part of the discussions on the successor to Partnership 2000. While these discussions have not yet begun, my position will continue to be reflected in the work of the green tax group and in my ongoing contacts with colleagues in Government, including the Minister for Finance.
