Ben Briscoe
Ceist:27 Mr. Briscoe asked the Minister for the Environment the implications of the introduction of a carbon tax for the policy remit of his Department. [13554/95]
Written Answers. - Carbon Tax Introduction.
The policy agreement, A Government of Renewal, includes a commitment to contribute to the preparation of the pan-European taxation policy on carbon and fossil fuel inputs. This position recognises that taxing fossil fuels by reference to their carbon and-or energy content can, in principle, assist environmental policy objectives.
Irish climate change policy is committed, in line with our obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to limiting the growth in national carbon dioxide emissions. Agreement on the EU carbon-energy tax, which has been under protracted discussion, would provide a further instrument in support of this objective.
The Government has made it clear that it does not oppose the principle of an EU carbon-energy tax provided certain considerations relating to Ireland's economic status and competitiveness, and our particular reliance on peat, are taken into account.