Ciarán Cuffe
Question:406 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will compare the use on environmental levies and similar fiscal instruments here, as opposed to other European Union countries. [25575/02]
Written Answers. - Environmental Policy.
In accordance with the polluter pays principle, environmental levies and other fiscal and market based instruments are being increasingly used internationally to assist in the achievement of environmental objectives. The OECD recently published a comparative study, Environmentally Related Taxes in OECD Countries: Issues and Strategies, which is of relevance in this regard.
In Ireland, there has already been some experience and success with economic and fiscal instruments, for example, differentiated taxation in favour of unleaded petrol and the more recent levies on plastic bags and the landfilling of waste. The Waste Management (Amendment) Act, 2001 provides that further levies may be applied to other goods and articles, subject to confirmation by the Oireachtas, and the Agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to consider extending the use of levies. In addition, as indicated by the Minister for Finance in his recent budget speech, relevant Departments have been asked to advance the plans for a general carbon energy tax, with a view to introducing this from the end of 2004.
Fiscal measures, incentives and disincentives and other economic instruments that have been applied internationally can often offer useful models of best practice, while acknowledging the unique circumstances involved in any particular instance. Relevant developments in this area are monitored on an ongoing basis by my Department and are taken into account in the formulation and review of environmental policy.