Committee on Budgetary Oversight to hold three sessions this week on Climate Action, Housing and Infrastructure

Tomorrow, Tuesday at 1.30pm, the Committee will consider issues relating to Climate Change, mainly the budgetary and fiscal implications with the following organisations due before the committee; the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment; ESRI, and the Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council, Professor John Fitzgerald.

“It is clear that Climate Change  will have budgetary implications so the perspective of Tuesday’s witnesses will be insightful, their assistance is something the committee very much looks forward to” said Committee Chairman Colm Brophy TD, ahead of the meeting in Committee Room 3 which can be viewed live here.

“The purpose of this session is to focus on the long-term budgetary implications of climate change measures.  These include: climate change targets and compliance costs; the budgetary impact of measures to introduce carbon taxes; and long-term changes to exchequer revenues arising from climate change measures.”

On Wednesday two separate sessions are planned, beginning at 2.15pm when Representatives from Nevin Economic Research Institute; Irish Congress of Trade Unions and Social Justice Ireland assist the committee on their consideration of issues relating to housing costs, cost of living, skills and tax base.

Later, at 3.55pm, representatives from Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) and the Construction Industry Federation are due before the committee with inflation, housing supply, infrastructure and labour skills to be discussed.

“Although Wednesday’s sessions are focused on different topics, they are very much related.  The input of such a broad range of national stakeholders, and the opportunities and challenges which they face, will assist the Committee in its pre-budget scrutiny hearings”, added Mr. Brophy.

Wednesday’s meetings in Committee Room 2 can be viewed live here