Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 1 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 1

Written Answers - Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Michael Noonan

Question:

101 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his views on whether the regime of carbon taxes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as signalled by the Government, will be accompanied by negotiated energy agreements with individual companies or with groups of companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8639/03]

Michael Noonan

Question:

137 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if individual companies will be exempt from the carbon tax signalled by the Government, if they achieve the emission targets agreed in agreements negotiated with these companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8640/03]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 137 together.

The design and implementation of fiscal policy is a matter for the Minister for Finance. Under the Government's national climate change strategy, Sustainable Energy Ireland is tasked with the preparation and dissemination of best practice guidelines, and individual energy performance indications for relevant industrial processes and the commercial and services sector. Based on this work, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment has responsibility for putting in place agreements to achieve agreed global energy benchmarks in all sectors.

The Minister for Finance announced in budget 2003 that the Government had asked the relevant Departments to advance the plans for a general carbon energy tax, with a view to introducing this from the end of 2004. Given the many impli cations of such a tax, both environmental and economic, he indicated that there would be full consultations with interested parties on the design of the tax and a reasonable period is being allowed for its effective introduction. The proposed consultation process, to be led by the Department of Finance, will allow for all relevant issues, including those raised in the question, to be discussed and assessed.