Deirdre Clune
Question:56 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Finance if the tax strategy group still has regular meetings; if it has revised its views on green taxes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14223/00]
Written Answers. - Environmental Taxes.
The tax strategy group meets every week during the months prior to budget day and at less regular intervals between that day and the passing of the Finance Act. It will commence its work on the preparations for the next budget in the coming months. A sub-committee of the group, commonly known as the green tax group, prepared a report on environmental tax issues for consideration prior to the last budget. A copy of the report is available on the Department's website, under reference TSG 99/51: Environmental Tax Policy.
One of the recommendations of the green tax group was that the current excise duty rebate on diesel for public transport be confined, in future, to low sulphur diesel, that is, diesel with a sulphur content of 50 parts per million. I made an announcement to that effect in my budget speech and legislative provision was made in the Finance Act. The relevant section of the Finance Act will be implemented by way of a commencement order, thus allowing operators sufficient time to make the switch to this cleaner fuel.