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LAST UPDATE | 23 Sep 2019
THE TAOISEACH HAS met European Council President Donald Tusk this afternoon to take stock of the latest situation regarding Brexit.
Varadkar is currently on a week-long trip to the United States, where he is visiting New York and the west coast.
Tusk and the Taoiseach met for approximately 45 minutes today, with both men agreeing that they want a deal.
A government spokesperson said they agreed that the EU side has not seen proposals from the UK that achieve the objectives of the backstop.
They also agreed that time is very short if there is to be a positive outcome at the EU summit, taking place in mid-October.
While in New York, the Taoiseach is due to hold a number of bilateral meetings with other leaders to discuss Brexit. He is also expected to have a meeting with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The Taoiseach is set to emphasise his openness to considering any British proposals for detailed, legally operable and realistic arrangements which achieve the objectives of the backstop. Those objectives are the free movement of people, goods and trade North and South, and close economic and political co-operation, said a government spokesperson, who added:
Talks are underway between the UK and the EU Task Force and there is a desire on all sides to reach a satisfactory agreement. The EU has made clear to the UK that it is open to examining specific proposals. However, as October 31st is just a few weeks away, the time available to reach an agreement is shrinking rapidly and engagements from the UK need to step up a gear in order to reach a deal.
A government spokesperson said all sides agree a negotiated deal is better than no deal.
“The Government is doing everything it can to prepare for no deal, but we’ll work up to the last moment to secure a deal,” they added.
Climate Summit
Today’s meeting took place against the backdrop of the UN Climate Summit.
Varadkar is to tell the UN that all new revenues raised from carbon tax will be ringfenced by the government to fund climate action in the coming years.
It has recently been flagged that the government has moved away from the view that giving everyone a carbon cheque in the post to offset the cost of the tax, or using the tax to increase in tax credits and welfare.
During Budget negotiations, Fianna Fáil also called for the money raised to be ring-fenced in a fund that would be devoted and allocated only for climate change protection measures.
Having proclaimed that Ireland has been a “laggard” in the past when it comes to tackling climate change, the Taoiseach will tell the UN that leadership is required to “convince people it is not too late to act”.
“We have a carbon tax and have a cross-party agreement to increase it to €80 per tonne by 2030,” he will say. “From next year, all new revenues raised from carbon tax will be ring-fenced to fund climate action and just transition.”
Just transition to protect those most exposed to higher fuel and energy costs and for whom new jobs must be found. Climate action to fund the transformation of our transport, electricity, buildings and food production systems.
The Taoiseach comments on carbon tax will come ahead of a launch later this week of a diplomatic base in Los Angeles.
Before travelling to LA on Wednesday, the Taoiseach will be in New York to attend the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly to promote Ireland’s candidature for a seat in the UN Security Council in 2021-2022.
While at the UN, he will also join Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand and French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as other leaders to discuss progress with the Christchurch call to action summit on tackling online terrorist content.
Varadkar said: “The Irish Government wants to work with our international counterparts and the major social media companies to halt the dissemination of violent extremist content online and to ensure when such material does appear, it is removed very quickly.”
After engagements in New York, Varadkar will travel to LA to inaugurate the new Hollywood base, which is being touted as a big resource to the Irish film industry.
The new consulate in LA is part of the government’s Global Green initiative, which aims to open 26 new embassies and consulates by 2026.
While on his trade mission to the west coast, Varadkar will make site visits to a number of client and target companies of Screen Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA.
He will also have a courtesy call with Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti.
With reporting from Seán Murray
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Our National Pension Fund was ringfenced too. Until the Banking crisis. Yes Leo. We believe. Now p!$$ off….
@Sean Oige: considering we already pay carbon taxes on our utility and fuel Bill’s what do they do with that existing income? Spend it on the private government jet?
@DaMoons: No, you’re wrong. Over one hundred million of it a year is spent on the “jobs in the bogs” scheme. That is where wood biomass is imported from raped out rain forest, for keeping the old peat stations going at 30% efficiency. 37,000 tonnes just in from Australia. Should be local biomass grown by our farmers for burning at 80% efficiency in local CHP plant in every town like in Scandinavia.
The other 300m. has been going to subsidise corporate wind and solar projects. The former at a load factor of less that 35% and the latter in our location just a scam. Both having to be backed up for the other 65% of the time with fossil fuel plant.
An explanation of what we should be doing can be found at http://www.bene.ie
The new tax they want to put on is quite different and is there merely as a slush fund to be handed out prior to subsequent elections, like the water one.
@Nicholas Grubb: Looks like the way to go. Good Comment, though we should all bring ourselves up to speed on what ‘New’ Nuclear Technology means.
@Denis McClean: But for sure it will beat the proposed burning of old tyres in the defunct Limerick Cement factory.
@Nicholas Grubb: Woukd increasing your population by 1 Million by 2040 , have any effect on our Carbon Omissions ha ha ha .
@Nicholas Grubb: Very interesting information there. These matters and other scams/scandals should bring down any traitorous Govt. Fine Gael & sloothery Fianna Fail must go.
Seems like a lot of fancy words there for explaining, “going for the craic for a week”.
@WoodlandBard: creating a job for one of the good old boys .
@WoodlandBard: A little all expenses taxpayer paid junket trip before the next election,
Ringfenced for more TD and minister pay rises, more like it, to pretect them from Brexit fall out, plus maybe fund more jobs for the boyos, such as the extra climate control consultants, web site designers, and new minister positions to oversee them.
This is just another expensive jolly. Ireland and varadkar are irelevant.
@Leo Lalor: Ireland is irrelevant?
@GerryCummins: leo is
@GerryCummins: Ireland has a smaller population than some cities in the EU.
@Paul Whelan: we punch wayyyy above our weight internationally!
I would like to be proved wrong, but I am sure that this is one of those statements that never actually gets followed up by the action of actually ring fencing these taxes raised for carbon emissions, the logic being that people will be taken in by the soundbite and accept it as the truth, even when the money ends up going straight into the Exchequer as usual….
@David Van-Standen: Like the LPT maybe…
FG and the Irish government can not be trusted, how many other taxes that were supposed to be ring fence and was used to bailout banks and Insurance companies etc. Yet the TDs will use the government jet and fly off on junkets at an moments notice. They don’t care about the environment only how much they can tax us.
@edunne-1959: What other taxes are you referring to that are ring fenced? Im not aware of any.
@Shazam37: LPT
@edunne-1959: So who can be trusted?
Greens == Tax, tax, tax.
The UN security council seat , ee cant fix the North but we can fix the world. They brought the sest with 800 million over seas aid , 100 million to the bank of Africa. 200 million direct provision here , plus a tpp up of 65 million for extra accommodation. Now remember we have a South American country collapsing whst they het NOTHING. He only bidited African counties wjo have a vote , thats why your soldiers ste hoing to Mali.
@Paul Whelan: have you tried writing in English? I have not got a clue what you are on about.
@Trevor W: Well sorry to hear that Trevour , you seemed to have hot uour self caught in an Adult coversation.
@Paul Whelan: is it ironic that your spelling was still wrong even after Trevor called you out on it?!!
@Niall: Thats ture
@Paul Whelan: wow Paul, heavy weekend as you are all over the place
@Paul Whelan: Do you not think it embarrassing that a British troll is being called out on his failure of the English language by the Irish he is trying (and failing) to stir? It’s a bit cringe
@Garreth Mc Mahon: No not really driving ha ha
@Skybloo: Ha ha , what makes you tbink i am European ?
@Trevor W: Is it true , that up to 25 FG cyber soldiers , are informed when a FG news story is being launched ha ha ha
@Paul Whelan: Ah yes using your phone while driving is a perfect excuse for your misspelling, focus on the road.
@Paul Whelan: Turn off the auto prompt on your phone.
@Paul Whelan: Put your phone away while you’re driving
@Paul Whelan: Please put your phone away while you’re driving
@Paul Whelan:
Very clear, if a little Joycean, with the stream of consciousness.
@Diarmuid Hunt: Who said it was a car ?.
@Josh Hanners: But if i did i woukd not have some many following my posts ha ha ha
@Paul Whelan: sleep-writing???? No idea what you are trying to say. If it is a genuine literacy issue, then apologies. If not, check your submissions before posting.
@Paul Whelan: Is there some kind of automobile or other machinery where it is safe to be on your phone?
@Paul Whelan: I never said car either by the way.
@Paul Whitehead: There an intelligent test on line , made with sentences of random letters . Its used for high end jobs and people required to solve complex problems . I suggest you don’t try it ha ha ha .
@Rory J Leonard: Remember what the scholar Pluto said .
@JusticeForJoe: Look if you crash on a playstation its no big deal.
@Paul Whitehead: Apologize for ???
@Paul Whelan: So you were playing games, not driving, thank goodness for that.
The more he speaks the bigger his nose gets
He says a lot of things. Sadly, few of them are true.
Wasnt the property Tax supposed to be ring fenced too?? I’m sure I remember them saying it was supposedly to support local development etc…it must be odd to believe your own lies are absolute truths.
@Owen Merne: Ringfenced for local services.
P*ssed away on Irish Water.
Save the bankers scam tax..
Does he just do everything Europe tells him to do?
It will be ring fenced and then squandered as per usual.
I agree wholeheartedly on climate action… I do my part and I’m raising my children to be very eco conscious and hopefully through them it’ll be passed down the line…… I also know a band wagon when I see one and this is exactly what the politicians of Ireland have been waiting for to introduce more taxes on the already tax burdened citizen’s of Ireland……Varadkar couldn’t care less about the environment unless it involves a photo op!!!
@Marc Quinn: You now have the perfect opportunity to impress upon your children the reality of this climate hoax tax raising scam & make their pocket money the first cut back you have to make to help prevent the unpreventable. Then you can explain to them how environmental pollution & waste are different from the effect of the suns activity on this planet.
And if you believe that old waffle, you shouldn’t be out on your own!
until it isnt. bit like the pension reserve or even peoples pensions
@ed w: you mean ORDINARY peoples pensions –td’s pensions are well protected and only ever rise -never fall !
@Eric Davies: good point
Tax regime to climate warming
Lol do they know what ringfenced means.
@Jim O Brien – TechBuzz Ireland: in leo’s case its a game him and his partner play at bedtime !!
@Eric Davies: Ohhhh matron
@Shakka1244: i’ll leave you to guess what they use for swords !!!
Green policies, carbon taxes, students on protests – all just a propaganda exercise to increase taxes and eventually waste those taxes. Resist all budget changes that try to tax you more under a climate change mind game. It’s all rubbish. Don’t forget USC was supposed to be temporary, never any word when that is to be abolished.
@Eddie O’Neill: Jesus it’s so obvious why were in so much trouble when you read comments like this.
FG are a neoliberal right wing pro business party. They believe in low taxation. Varadkar campaigned on lower taxation. He can’t do it because we’re broke and headed for a hard Brexit.
Before we can fix problems we need to understand them – if you don’t understand the basic ideologies of the parties themselves how can we ever fix the country?
Why would you ever believe a party that had bankrupted the country and was about to be voted out of office? USC was never going to be temporary.
Just proivot jetting around the world to guilt everyone about cloimot change
More like lining up his buddies pockets take from the poor give to the rich
@Marty Lawless: when will Leo realise that nobody, repeat nobody believes a word he says. Don’t embarrass yourself Leo we all see through your rubbish.
Ring fenced like car tax was that suddenly ended up setting up the private quango Irish Water, or the the LPT that seems to go everywhere but back into local councils, or my personal favourite the sugar tax which has definitely not seen any major funding going back to the HSE……..so do tell us prince vanity socks what ring fenced will really mean
Be a good boy Leo and do what your told!
Sure all politicians have a larger carbon footprint than the rest of us landless peasants. They us more of almost every polluting resource. They travel a lot more by cars, planes etc, they have bigger houses which use more energy, gas, oil, electricity etc. Their very own lifestyles produce more waste and pollution than your average citizens. Ultimate hypocrisy as usual. Why do they only drink bottled water in Dáil Éireann when they have free tap water and glasses there? Oh yeah, that would be the fact that they don’t want to drink a highly toxic industrial waste chemical. (hydrofluorosilicic acid) I suppose they are right about not wanting to drink a slow-acting poison in their water! I’m sure they recycle their Ballygowan water bottles too, like good little Greta’s :)
in 1997 (iirc) the then-Minister for finance brought in a 2% increase in VAT and 5% increase in motor tax, specifically to fund water. And look how that turned out…
Anyone who believes anything is ‘ringfenced’ is beyond deluded.
@John Moylan: How can a motor tax which is used to find water ever be considered “ringfenced”? It’s a contradiction in terms. The tax itself is used to fund two entirely separate services.
Ring fenced my a@$e….It will be disappear like other money meant to be ring fenced..
@MickN: what other monies were supposed to be ringfenced?
Now all we need is a government that can be trusted with our money.
And someone to provide detailed information on how people can sustain a minimum level of heating in their homes if they don’t have the funds for a hugely expensive insulation upgrade.
I like how as soon as the “green movement”made minor waves the entire Irish populace seemed quietly resigned to the fact that our joke of a government would use it as an excuse to raise taxes – which it will..What difference will it make; we’ll still be hit with 52% income tax (I’m counting USC in this because it IS basically an income tax, property tax, VAT on everything and now water charges – again), we’ll still have to heat our homes and drive to work only now we’ll struggle even more to do so. When will this end? When every last drop is squeezed out of the people who get nothing in return?
People are claiming that we need to take to the streets again like we did for water charges but…they spitefully reintroduced them two years later as an “overuse” charge. and STILL FFG are leading in the polls….are we so spineless…
@SJF: wow – lots to unpack there. First things first – any discussion on taxation has to be couched against the fact we’re 200 BILLION in debt. We did that. Us. To our own country.
Secondly – taxes we control – such as water and property are far preferable to income taxes which are just deducted at source. It’s totally disingenuous to suggest water taxes came back by stealth when you’d have to be filling swimming pools to bye hit with overuse charges.
Thirdly you do get something for your money – roads police health education. Are these services perfect or even good? No often not. But they do exist. So don’t claim you get nothing.
You want a break? Grow up and vote for better taxation and competent representation. Less taxation is just not feasible.
@Shazam37:
Wow – like how you’re reaction to something you don’t agree with is to tell me to “grow up”. I assume when you talk about representation you’re referring to either FG or FF, how many proposals for better taxation and competent representation have they put forward again? None, is it?
200bn in debt, that the government took on, as part of a bailout, against the advise of the top financial advisors in the country. Wilfully and willingly crippling the Irish populace for generations to come (I wasn’t old enough to vote at the time, sure as hell didn’t vote for FF and like most of my generation is feeling the brunt of the consequences of that decision – silly things like owning your own homes someday and being able to retire are not for you, snowflakes!).
Burdening the Irish people with a debt that we should never have had in the first place if we’d just let the banks collapse (Iceland seems to be doing pretty well now and we have the third highest per capita debt in the WORLD and the one’s responsible for it have their 500K a year salaries only now funded by the taxpayers and no one is in jail)
How exactly do we control water and property? Should people move out of their homes? Stop using water? Or can they choose to pay less on their PAYE so they won’t be charged for water twice?
Every country has roads, police, hospitals and schools we shouldn’t be patting ourselves on the back for providing an inferior service especially considering how much we’re paying for it…
Less taxation is not feasible because of mismanagement and stupid decisions by the people we trusted to run the country, they are still mismanaging our money or do you think 2bn for a hospital is reasonable? What about 5bn for broadband technology that will be obsolete by the time the project is completed?
I’m sure it will be ring fenced but I’m also fairly certain they will drop department of the environment, climate action funding a similar but lesser amount.
Ok Leo I believe Ya, millions wouldn’t!!!
The FG think tank, let’s promote a carbon tax and we will do nothing. It’ll be great for the exchequer who’ll be waiting within the ring fence.
Sure the next government will have to deal with the fallout of the lies of the climate change fiasco. This current shower are creating the greatest existentialist crisis since the famine of the 1840s.
@Thomas: Let’s generate all the jobs in Dublin. Couple that with an unreliable, badly laid out bus service & over burdened train system. All overpriced. But no available homes in Dublin, even for 2k a month. Then beasts of burden must commute exhausting distances, and we’ll tax them for the privilege. Can we enquire when the *temporary USC tax expires? Or any chance we can reclaim bin charges & mortgage interest tax for duration of mortgage, ALL the new sneaky taxes we’ve been burdened with.
Meanwhile FG give themselves extra pay, more expenses including travel expenses, more days off. Backed up by the Soldiers of Mutiny against Irish.
That’s Fine Gaelness. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs only refers to elite. Penal servitude brought to you by pinkshirts.
Just pure lies .. any governance who were serious in anyway on climate nonsense would tax the corporations not normal people.. just another tax scammed by your friendly cor corporate governance
@james r: A serious government would do both. It’s ridiculous to suggest that all the cars driving into our cities doesn’t affect the air we breath.
@Shazam37: a tax Shascam
Wondering how much carbon was generated by this Golf trip ha h h , should have got the boat like the little girl did ha ha ha
You’re a number for revenue. Nothing more. Nothing less.
(Unless you’re up the jaxy of a political party)
Pmpa setanta quinn
Ah the levies
Would you believe Mr varadkar.
Yet the old Irish Cement factory in Limerick has been given the green light to burn whatever waste they like. The state dont give a shit about climate action. It’s just about money for them.
It will probably go to IW
Varadkar Irish for idiot
Are all the trees culled for 5G to be used in the ring fence?
Environment my eye.
have your say