{"id":25069,"date":"2022-02-08T13:16:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-08T18:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25069"},"modified":"2022-02-09T13:20:02","modified_gmt":"2022-02-09T18:20:02","slug":"martin-carbon-tax-increase-has-little-to-do-with-rise-in-cost-of-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25069","title":{"rendered":"Martin: Carbon Tax Increase Has ‘Little To Do With’ Rise In Cost Of Living"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mr Martin told the D\u00e1il that the Government has to \u201ccushion the blow\u201d of the inflationary cycle, particularly for those most in hardship and at risk (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Taoiseach has said the planned increase in carbon taxes has \u201cvery little to do with\u201d the rise in the cost of living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miche\u00e1l Martin rejected calls to scrap the planned carbon tax hike, saying the Government will introduce different measures to tackle the jump in living costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin told the D\u00e1il that the Government has to \u201ccushion the blow\u201d of the inflationary cycle, particularly for those most in hardship and at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He made the comments in response to Sinn F\u00e9in president Mary Lou McDonald who called for the Government to abandon its plans to increase carbon tax due to take effect in May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During leaders\u2019 questions, Ms McDonald claimed the hike will increase gas bills and push home heating oil costs up \u201csubstantially\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Mr Martin defended the plans, saying it has little to do with a jump in fuel and energy bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis time last year indeed, a barrel of oil on international markets traded at 61 US dollars. Today it\u2019s at 91 US dollars,\u201d Mr Martin added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat wasn\u2019t caused by carbon tax. That is a global phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo let\u2019s not try and misrepresent the issue for the public out there who are watching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA liter of petrol cost has risen 38 per cent over the same period, an increase of 28 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGas prices in international markets have nearly quadrupled over the past year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe average annual gas bill has risen by \u20ac700.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd again, all of that, vast majority of that, has very little to do with carbon tax.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms McDonald said: \u201cWe\u2019ve called on you to scrap your planned carbon tax hike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis hike will increase gas bills and push home heating oil costs up substantially at a time when people are struggling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCarbon tax hikes add to the cost of everything, particularly food due to increased transport costs and farmers have been telling you this for a long time, but you just haven\u2019t listened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHiking carbon taxes is the wrong call at the wrong time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour \u20ac100 credit is far too little for far too many families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd March is very far away for people who can\u2019t afford their energy bills today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin added: \u201cWe\u2019ve got to cushion the blow of this inflationary cycle, cushion the blow for those most in hardship, those most at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to target the measures that government is currently examining to do just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s what we intend to do and to alleviate people more generally, in terms of these pressures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Government has a number of measures under consideration to help people over and above what we\u2019ve done already.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms McDonald accused the Government of \u201cdelaying and dithering\u201d and proving a lack of clarity for those who are struggling to pay bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Labour\u2019s Ged Nash also hit out at the Government, and called for a rise in wages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe poverty of imagination from government is awfully baffling,\u201d Mr Nash added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo far, the only tangible practical proposal from government is a tokenistic \u20ac113 off the payment for electricity bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat may be increased of course, we don\u2019t know yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s a drop in the ocean compared to the rising costs that people face.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow for those on low and fixed incomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe only action that will really help is an increase to wages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOver 20 per cent of Irish workers are low paid, and we spend billions every year subsidizing low pay to lift people out of poverty wages.\u201d<\/p>\n

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