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The Taoiseach has denied a four-fold increase in carbon tax rates is being planned by the Government in a bid to tackle climate change<\/p>\nThe Taoiseach has denied a four-fold increase in carbon tax rates is being planned by the Government in a bid to tackle climate change<\/p>\n
Leo Varadkar told the Dail that climate action was needed but such a hefty increase was not being considered.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is an absolutely no prospect of a carbon tax increase of that scale or anything remotely approaching it being proposed by this Government in the next budget,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there is an increase in the carbon tax, it is my strong view that the money should be ring-fenced, and given back to people in the form of increases in fuel allowance to protect those who are least well-off, in the form of increased tax credits, in the form of a dividend model,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He made the remarks in response Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald, who maintained penalizing families was not the way to fight climate change.<\/p>\n
She said Sinn Fein would not support any carbon tax increase that did not protect low and medium-income families.<\/p>\n
\u201cLoading another layer of cost and tax on ordinary people is not going to change behavior and yet you seem intent on pursing this course of action,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnless you put in place measures to give families alternatives, a carbon tax is just a punitive one and must absolutely be opposed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Varadkar said climate action was required as Ireland was \u201cwell behind\u201d meeting emissions targets and needed to catch up.<\/p>\n
\u201cCarbon tax will not solve the problem of climate change but we won\u2019t solve the problem of climate change without carbon tax,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is and has to be part of the solution.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that the point of a carbon tax is that it is done in a way that would nudge people and corporations to change their behavior.<\/p>\n