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Four in five people think next month's Carbon Tax increase should be delayed

It’s according to new polling conducted by Red C on behalf of The Journal.

ALMOST FOUR IN five people in Ireland think that the Government should postpone next month’s carbon tax increase, according to a new survey. 

An opinion poll carried out on behalf of The Journal by Red C Research found that 79% of people feel that the Government should postpone the increase.

Just 16% of those surveyed said the increase should not be postponed, while 5% said they did not know. 

The increase is set to kick in on 1 May, when the price of carbon will rise from €33.50 to €41.00 per tonne.

The Government is hoping that the VAT cut will offset the planned increase in the carbon tax.

According to the Red C poll, more females than males thought the increase should be postponed than males. 83% of females thought it should be postponed, as opposed to 78% of males. 

Meanwhile, 83% of those aged 35-54 agreed that the increase should be postponed, compared to 75% of those aged 18-34, and 78% of those aged 55+.

More people with dependent children agreed that the Government should postpone the increase than those without, at 83% and 78%, respectively. 

84% of those in Connacht and Ulster felt the increase should be postponed. This opinion was shared by 82% of people in the rest of Leinster, 79% of people in Munster and 75% in Dublin. 

21% of people in Dublin felt the increase should not be postponed. 

Climate change

The increase in Carbon Tax was proposed as part of Budget 2022 as part of the Government’s strategy to support a greener and cleaner environment in Ireland.

However, opposition TDs have rounded on the Government in recent months over the planned increase, due to the rising cost of living. In February, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD said increasing Carbon Tax was “the wrong call at the wrong time”.

“This hike will increase gas bills and push home heating oil up substantially at a time when people are struggling. Carbon 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’t listened,” McDonald said.

Mattie McGrath TD of the Rural Independent Group said that Carbon Tax was “key contributing factor” to the rising cost of living, saying that it “a bruising impact” on the prices of homemade electricity, petrol and diesel.

However, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Oireachtas had to deal with climate change “once and for all”. 

“We had it earlier in the cost of living debate. When people were saying postpone the Carbon Tax, just postpone it. And the same will happen with carbon budgets and everybody will say it’s not enough. But when actual specific measures are going to be put on the table in respect to realising these objectives. Everybody will oppose them, ” he said.

The younger generation of this country need us, need this Oireachtas to deal with climate change once and for all. We can’t keep on postponing climate change, we can’t keep on delaying climate change.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar last week said that the increase in carbon tax next month will be “more than offset” by the new cost-of-living package, including the VAT reduction. 

“We’ve put together a package that will offset that [carbon tax], in fact, it will more than offset it,” said Varadkar.

“It’ll be both universal and targeted, everyone will benefit from the package but there’ll also be a targeted measure to make sure that those lowest income families get a little bit more.”

Varadkar added that Ireland had received “flexibility” on the EU’s VAT directive, meaning that it would be able to temporarily reduce VAT rates on both electricity and gas without having to increase them to a much higher rate in the future.

Last week, Cabinet signed off on a package of measures aimed at reducing the rising cost of living. The VAT cut on energy bills from 13.5% to 9% will begin on 1 May and last until 31 October, while excise tax on marked gas will also be reduced by 2.7%.

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    Mute Ricky McCabe
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    Apr 18th 2022, 7:03 AM

    This is one that will be remembered at next Election.

    928
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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    Apr 18th 2022, 7:25 AM

    @Ricky McCabe: Hopefully we will see the back of Eamon Ryan. When he’s not sleeping, he has a constant smirk on his face.

    804
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    Mute Twitruser2022
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:57 AM

    @Ricky McCabe: Only 5 more elections left until 2050 by then we truly should be in living in an earth that will eliminate us. The main companies that destroyed the planet keep on keeping there crap flowing as they have sealed our fate for greed and are now taxing us to pay for the clean up.

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    Mute Mickey Finn
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:03 AM

    @Earth Traveller: Hopefully, because then we won’t be constantly be reminded of that pesky climate change thing that’s coming down the tracks. Remember we’ll still need to stop using fossil fuels, drive more slowly and have shorter showers. That’s coming anyway, Eamonn or no Eamonn.

    34
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    Mute M
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:13 AM

    @Ricky McCabe: no it wont. People will keep voting them in. This is just another bad example in a long line of bad examples from the we know better brigade.

    45
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    Mute Gareth Murran
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    Apr 18th 2022, 10:49 AM

    @Twitruser2022: it beggars belief that people are so short sited to blame Eamon Ryan for the carbon tax. The need for the carbon tax has nothing to do with this government or the next. It’s a global policy imperative.

    37
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    Mute MikeOM
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    Apr 18th 2022, 12:47 PM

    @Gareth Murran: It beggars belief that people think these companies are responsible for global warming. They only exist because people need to buy things from them

    20
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    Mute Ciaran
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    Apr 18th 2022, 1:14 PM

    @Gareth Murran: so true

    2
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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Apr 18th 2022, 4:12 PM

    @Ricky McCabe: so we’re not on the government doing nothing to save the planet bandwagon anymore?

    2
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    Mute Dave Johnston
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    Apr 18th 2022, 7:40 AM

    It should be abolished, not delayed.

    599
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    Mute Credalytics ☘️
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:17 AM

    @Dave Johnston:

    The language is devised to be a false dialectic.

    31
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    Mute Alan Kenny
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    Apr 18th 2022, 7:02 AM

    This Government don’t care about people in this country

    590
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    Mute Tom Hogarty
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:27 AM

    @Alan Kenny: That just isn’t true, the government do care, just not about all the people in the country. They obviously really do care about some people and most probably don’t really care much about others. Now, I feel a little bit better, like my comment is fairer, more balanced, than yours and makes a difference, thank you for giving me that opportunity.

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    Mute Larry O Reilly
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:47 AM

    @Tom Hogarty: what a load of jibbrish a nonsense comment that makes absolutely no sense, mot even phrases probably

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    Mute Mickey Finn
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:47 AM

    @Alan Kenny: Then the people in this country should stop electing uncaring TDs who form these uncaring governments. The people don’t seem to care that much either.

    38
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    Mute Ryan Armstrong
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    Apr 18th 2022, 10:57 AM

    @Mickey Finn: in fairness we didn’t elect them this time sinn feint won the polls so ff/fg came together so one could put the ky jelly on while the other bent us over

    43
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    Mute Ryan Armstrong
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    Apr 18th 2022, 11:06 AM

    @Mickey Finn: we didn’t this time…..so ff/fg formed together so how do ya win against that

    13
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    Mute Irish Cottage Rental
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    Apr 18th 2022, 1:25 PM

    @Ryan Armstrong: that’s not how our democracy works. SF didn’t have the votes.

    11
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    Mute Aidan Bourke
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    Apr 18th 2022, 5:25 PM

    @Alan Kenny: not true, they seem to care about people on the dole who need council housing, tax the crap out of the workers, 200 a week, council house, nice car, holiday every year and a load of children’s allowance

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    Mute Mark H
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    Apr 18th 2022, 7:23 AM

    It would be better the provide incentive and more grants for green initiatives rather than punish those who can afford to upgrade to the alternative. Carbon based fuels are getting more expensive… The rise in cost is incentive enough without piling on more tax….

    Why not allow interest free loans for people on lower incomes to upgrade their heating systems, insulation and add solar… Many other solutions too.

    Invest in more offshore wind…

    284
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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:27 AM

    @Mark H: How would elderly people be able to take out loans?

    160
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    Mute Mickey Finn
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:50 AM

    @Dave Barrett: We could give a discount on the price of oil to elderly people so the carbon tax doesn’t affect them.

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    Mute Joseph Mc Dermott
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:03 AM

    @Dave Barrett: it’s easy dave and this applies to everyone,, The ESB fits pv panels to all houses… costs about 8k per home, then buy back the units of power for the grid but use that money to repay installation… then it costs nobody anything. Simple isn’t it. But our lads can’t think beyond their nose especially Numpty Ryan

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    Mute Michael O'Mahony
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:08 AM

    @Mark H:
    Mark ffs will you shut up. Your making sense.
    Thats not allowed in this wee Country.
    Stop it right now

    22
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    Mute Credalytics ☘️
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:21 AM

    @Mark H:

    Toxic Chemicals in Solar Panels:
    Cadmium telluride, copper indium selenide, cadmium gallium (di)selenide, copper indium gallium (di)selenide, hexafluoroethane, lead, & polyvinyl fluoride. Silicon tetrachloride a byproduct is also highly toxic. https://sciencing.com/toxic-chemicals-solar-panels-18393.html

    Given me cheap abundant high energy density hydrocarbons and harmless CO2 any day.

    20
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    Mute Credalytics ☘️
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:23 AM

    @Joseph Mc Dermott:

    Toxic Chemicals in Solar Panels:
    Cadmium telluride, copper indium selenide, cadmium gallium (di)selenide, copper indium gallium (di)selenide, hexafluoroethane, lead, & polyvinyl fluoride. Silicon tetrachloride a byproduct is also highly toxic. https://sciencing.com/toxic-chemicals-solar-panels-18393.html

    CO2 is a life giving gas, they raise parts per million to 800 in greenhouses to yield larger crops.

    13
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    Mute Ciaran Burke
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:54 AM

    @Mickey Finn: why should they get preferential treatment? They already get free transport, medical cards, passports for leisure now special deal on fuel? No the elderly should share the burden with us or use their voting power to pressure the government to abolish or delay the carbon tax.

    10
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    Mute Frances Casey
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    Apr 18th 2022, 10:01 AM

    @Ciaran Burke: I’m in my 60′s I don’t get free transport, medical card and paid for my own bloody passport. Believe me I am already feeling the burden of all these increasing prices and I’m not on my own. So get your facts straight before making these stu-pid comments. Most elderly people( older than me).are struggling daily.

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    Mute Mark H
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    Apr 18th 2022, 10:06 AM

    @Credalytics ☘️: there are toxins everywhere. Anything can be dangerous if misused. Stop being a numpty.

    22
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    Mute John Devine
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    Apr 18th 2022, 7:52 AM

    Transparency and proof on how this money will reverse climate change is needed.

    280
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    Mute John Bathe
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    Apr 18th 2022, 7:59 AM

    @John Devine: good point… we all know it won’t be.. just another tax to go towards repaying our massive national debt… now who is responsible for that debt? Oh yes…

    214
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    Mute Mickey Finn
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:07 AM

    @John Devine: Nothing will reverse climate change in our lifetimes or our children’s lifetimes. We might prevent things being an awful lot worse for our grandchildren.

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    Mute John Johnes
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:12 AM

    @Mickey Finn: nobody elected this muppets in the government , they are electing themselves.

    40
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    Mute Credalytics ☘️
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:20 AM

    @Mickey Finn:

    What climate change ?

    22
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    Mute John Devine
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    Apr 18th 2022, 7:02 PM

    @Mickey Finn: You are right, I just want to know what exactly we are paying for, its the least they can provide to us.

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    Mute Ian James Burgess
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:40 PM

    @John Bathe: and the increases in public sector pensions which are going up with inflation. Seems strange, when the country being run by them is doing badly they get a rise.

    2
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    Mute Heisen berg1
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:29 AM

    It will mean the Greens light will go out in the next election for shour and about time. How does squeezing more money out of people save the planet?

    190
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    Mute Rita McCabe
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:29 AM

    All we hear is tax tax tax. Stick stick stick, the mantra of this government.

    They cite heat pumps as the answer to oil or gas. They are not the answer because they are expensive to run. Even if your house is pickled with solar panels, when you need to use your heat pump to heat your home on Winter, you have minimal solar gain to convert to electricity. We have some of the highest prices for electricity in Europe and it’s only going one way.

    The government know this but keep promoting it as clean energy. It maybe somewhat clean but it is definitely expensive.

    178
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    Mute Ignorant Carbon
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:25 AM

    @Rita McCabe: To be fair, there have been carrots in the form of grants available for decades, there is also an element of personal responsibility for investing in your energy efficiency, hence sheilding yourself from energy cost increases. The carrots have failed, so they bring out the stick.

    There are thousands of people at risk of fuel poverty who will need significant support in the years to come. But there are a magnitude more who don’t want to make ANY changes to how they live because of habit and a false view that change can come at no impact to how we live, travel or spend.

    As for heat pumps, I can tell you that they are still far cheaper to run than a oil fired central heating system and even a relatively small solar system can still take a significant chunk off the cost even in Ireland

    18
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    Mute Tom Gahan
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    Apr 18th 2022, 1:19 PM

    @Rita McCabe: A lot of our electricity is presently being generated from coal and gas so it ‘s far from green.

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    Mute pat seery
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    Apr 18th 2022, 2:38 PM

    @Ignorant Carbon: What About the cost to change from oil It’s OK when Building New Homes Where Are you to get 30/40K to convert from Oil

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    Mute Ignorant Carbon
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    Apr 18th 2022, 3:38 PM

    @pat seery: It’s not an easy question, we put it on the mortgage nearly 10 years ago and saved what we could to add things like solar since.
    For those not in the position to do that the state could offer interest-free loans which stay with the property on sale or inheritance.

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    Mute Ian O'Donovan
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    Apr 18th 2022, 6:58 AM

    Oil lorries flying up and down the road by me the last week filling oil tanks before this tax kicks in, my neighbor’s heating oil bill was €1700 for a full tank!!

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    Mute David O Neill
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    Apr 18th 2022, 7:20 AM

    @Ian O’Donovan: how much more money is the carbon tax going cost on a 1000 litres?

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    Mute Lee King Buckett
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    Apr 18th 2022, 7:29 AM

    @David O Neill: Just over €20

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    Mute Ian O'Donovan
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    Apr 18th 2022, 7:57 AM

    @David O Neill: afraid to ask at this point

    16
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    Mute Mickey Finn
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:09 AM

    @Ian O’Donovan: Fortunately the not too scary answer is above.

    19
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    Mute Nicholas Grubb
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:05 AM

    We all laughed at Mr.Poots last year with his Creationism. We’re the ones to be laughed at with our Government and academia taken over by the Planet Ireland Movement. They of course believing that Ireland is on a separate Planet to Earth, to which they are wired, like some used to be to the Moon. Thus all we have to do to solve Climate crisis is get rid of the cows, the data centres and big tech, buy a few bicycles and job done, problem solved. There is more methane already boiling out of the permafrost and Artic ice than from a billion more cows and as for carbon, that depends on how much coal the Chinese and Indians burn. If they want us to change our carbon outputs here, give us cheap power to run heat pumps and electric vehicles, not the most expensive in Europe, all caused by the vast subsidies paid to renewables, which are no good for 50% of the time. As a bit of an eco fanatic, with a fairly good knowledge of what this is going take, it is quite clear to me that the only worldwide solution is a mass move into the new nuclear technologies, these new types being put in every existing thermal plant, cement works etc.. all being made a as matter of great urgency by the military industrial complex, instead of spending as we are, two thousand billion dollars on weapons / war per annum and frightening the sh*t out of us at the same time. This is Warming World War we are into, not some squabble in the Dail.!

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    Mute Rita McCabe
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:22 AM

    @Nicholas Grubb: well said

    28
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    Mute Nicholas McMurry
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:24 AM

    @Nicholas Grubb: It is simply not true that renweables are somehow responsible for rise in energy prices. Renewable electricity is cheaper than nuclear, gas, coal and oil. Technologies are developing fast for power storage like sulphur sodium batteries in Japan that are solving the problems of intermittent supply. Much of the conversion that “Planet Ireland” is calling for is required however it is to be powered e.g. connection of heating and transport sectors to the grid. I am not against nuclear power and am glad that we will soon be able to import nuclear power from France but renewables have to be at the core of our energy strategy.

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    Mute Mickey Finn
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:56 AM

    @Nicholas Grubb: Ireland’s effect on the global climate is tiny. Unless the large countries cut back, our efforts are pointless. However, you’re going to find it hard to persuade big countries to cut back, if part of our sales pitch is “by the way, we’re not going to use less resources in Ireland as it won’t make a difference, but we want you to”.

    24
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    Mute Nicholas Grubb
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:59 AM

    @Nicholas McMurry: Of course I’m exaggerating over the renewables.I’m a life long hydro man myself. They can probably bet got up to about 40%, but the heavy lifting has to be nuclear. The problem with the 50% gap fillers, is they are way, way off. Tell us what Planning is in for them.! Zilch. Hydrogen will probably get to 20% of the task by 2050. As for batteries, they’ll do a couple of hours, and as for Pan European grids, don’t tell Mr.Putin or those whose backyards they would have to be in.

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    Mute martin
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    Apr 18th 2022, 10:40 AM

    @Nicholas Grubb:

    1
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    Mute Credalytics ☘️
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:13 AM

    The idea that people can change the climate via taxation is no more absurd than the idea that dancing can evoke the rain.

    At least the latter won’t cost you anything and has a higher chance of success given we live in Ireland after all.

    100
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    Mute Ignorant Carbon
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    Apr 18th 2022, 10:51 AM

    @Credalytics ☘️: The idea that people will change their behavior voluntarily is also absurd, convenience is king. You would be more likely to get it to rain with your dance than have people reduce their standard of living to save energy.

    We are an island of selfish individuals rather than a nation of caring neighbors. Look around at the demonstrations of wealth across the island. Big cars and houses are chosen above energy efficiency and the cost of running.

    We want personal convenience over livability in our towns, villages, and cities. The status of big TVs and holidays abroad are almost seen as rights rather than luxuries.

    19
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    Mute Daff. Myers
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:49 AM

    The vat cut will offset the carbon tax. So that means they actually did sweet FA to help people with rising energy costs and the worst inflation we’ve had for a generation at least. Parts of our society are literally having to choose between spending the little they have on heating or food.

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    Mute Jason Healy
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:42 AM

    @Daff. Myers: they couldn’t do anything as Ireland has a derogation on vat for energy except oil at 13.5%. If they drop this below 12% it will revert back to 23%. They offset the excise but could do nothing else. They’ve got a further derogation which they can cut energy (not oil) down to 9%. That’s not sweet fa.

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    Mute Daff. Myers
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    Apr 18th 2022, 12:16 PM

    @Jason Healy: ok I’ll rephrase;if all that is wiped out by the carbon tax increases then all efforts so eloquently set out above, it will have the effect of them having done sweet FA. It’s most unfortunate for people who don’t have sufficient means to feed their families and adequately heat their homes no matter how its framed.

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    Mute Jason Healy
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    Apr 18th 2022, 1:07 PM

    @Daff. Myers: it’s a double edged sword. Tax has to come from somewhere to keep things going. If they cut tax to far on energy then it has to come from other sources. Also I’ll add again the carbon tax is an EU directive not an Irish tax. Its up to the EU to cut the tax.

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    Mute Epgenetics29 Declan Christoph
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    Apr 18th 2022, 10:11 AM

    I’d like to propose recycling Eamon Ryan…

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    Mute Owen McGinley
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    Apr 18th 2022, 10:36 AM

    @Epgenetics29 Declan Christoph: While not being a fan of Minister Ryan, do we ignore the facts, do nothing and blame the People who are trying to do something to help avoid a Climatic Disaster.

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    Mute TheKloppKop
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:51 AM

    The government has failed in its obligation to make sure that this country is ready for sustainability. Renewable energy not where it should be and electric cars costing €60k plus. Alright of this is out of reach for everyday families and we’re the ones to suffer.

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    Mute Ignorant Carbon
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:38 AM

    @TheKloppKop: There are plenty of EVs for far less than €60k, there are a number below and around the €30k price point.
    We as the people have also failed in our obligation to insist that our representatives make the country more sustainable, more livable and more energy independent.
    We have also thrown our toys out of the pram every time changes that are needed are brought up… the king’s and queens of NIMBYism and Whataboutery

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    Mute Attilio
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    Apr 19th 2022, 7:11 AM

    @Ignorant Carbon: €60k for a car is not reasonable. EVs are still way too expensive

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    Mute martin
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    Apr 18th 2022, 10:37 AM

    Meanwhile Money Point burning dirty coal until 2025,If Ryan wants to do something, build massive state owned wind farm off cost, drill for our own gas off Cork coast, seriously investigate A nuclear option, when done cheap electricity, then do heat pumps or electric storage heaters. No just tax Ryan you have to do something as well. Greens are finished next election.

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    Mute Sean Minihane
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:41 AM

    How much extra will this carbon tax put on an avg utility bill? It would be handy if the article actually included this info. I may be wrong but If less than 2 euro as Eamon Ryan mentioned it previously then that’s noting. Why are people getting so worked up for such a small increase? And don’t say most people cant afford 2 euro to try help climate change. Surely there’s bigger issues people can complain about.

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    Mute Niamh Hayes
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:01 AM

    @Sean Minihane: the point is it won’t help climate change because ordinary people do not have options to convert from a carbon base.nobody wants to commute for hours or live in poorly insulated houses.

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    Mute Sean Minihane
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    Apr 18th 2022, 10:35 AM

    @Niamh Hayes: Carbon tax is used to pay for the fuel allowances increases and the financing of home insulation for low-income households.

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    Mute Ciaran Burke
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:50 AM

    It’s not the right time. Not when there is a global energy crisis. Delay it for a year or so.

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    Mute Ignorant Carbon
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    Apr 18th 2022, 10:33 AM

    @Ciaran Burke: The right time for change was 10 years ago, but we have been living on resources borrowed from our children and we have run out of time to start paying them back.

    I know that there are many people living in energy poverty, living from day to day with massive uncertainty and fear. But the reality is that there is a massive proportion of the population unwilling to voluntarily give up anything in their standard of living to support those in need or to make a transition to a lower energy/carbon way of life.

    Genuine question to people…. How do we make that change before it’s too late?
    How do we support those in need, while forcing those who could change (but refuse to) to make adjustments to their lifestyle without using taxation?
    How do we ringfence funds from those who are high energy users and carbon outputers to support those in energy poverty?

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    Mute Anthony Guinnessy
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    Apr 19th 2022, 1:16 AM

    @Ignorant Carbon: genuine answer, you borrow the funds required to generate cheap energy that makes oil, petrol and diesel uneconomical. You build out your green energy infrastructure including car charging points, ability of grid to accept solar from domestic houses etc etc.

    You have a state energy supplier that guarantees the majority of your energy needs and that also means no other country is profiting off our citizens with billions leaving the country.

    What you don’t do is start raising taxes before the alternatives are in place. What you don’t do is ask the people to grow lettuce thinking it will have any impact on climate change, what you don’t do is push people into potential death due to not being able to heat their homes with turf. What you don’t do is let hippie greenies cause the dismantling of a massive wind Farm in galway when that’s what we need right now (all in the name of biodiversity???).

    Green lobby need to go to some practical people who can figure these things out for them as they are living on cloud cuckoo which means nothing is getting done at government level.

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    Mute Ignorant Carbon
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    Apr 19th 2022, 8:33 AM

    @Anthony Guinnessy: I completely agree with you on the majority of points, we are a good way along implementing many. I agree that there have been some frustrating delays re. Feed-in-Tariff (FIT), expansion of EV chargers, etc.
    There is never going to be a comfortable time to change, and if we wait until everything is in place we will lose all around.

    You also have to appreciate the scale of the changes needed on the grid to implement all of these changes, it’s nearly a full grid redesign. That being said ESB has been very slow to allow connections for FIT, microgen, batteries and large-scale EV infrastructure and has a sudo-monopoly on controlling the grid and has not responded with the urgency needed to allow rapid change.

    I’ll disagree with you on the continued use of turf, there are more sustainable forms of solid fuels that should be provided and subsidised for those at risk.

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    Mute Larry Whelan
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:58 AM

    Get rid of that ,the minister for turf

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    Mute Jason Healy
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:33 AM

    It would be nice every now and then if a person writing these stories for the Journal actually added some facts. The carbon tax is an eu tax which can’t be altered unless the eu says so. This was agreed before the rise in costs. The only way the irish government can change it is offset it through different measures like every eu country but the carbon tax itself stays. This site must be trying to keep up with the UK rags.

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    Mute Donal Ronan
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    Apr 18th 2022, 9:54 AM

    @Jason Healy: Incorrect. It is the one tax over which the EU have no control. It is an Irish tax.
    It is the one thing our shower are good at, coming up with new taxes

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    Mute Irish big fellow
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    Apr 18th 2022, 10:41 AM

    Will those who do not favour carbon tax take the blame when the world as we know it will disappear and our children have no chance to enjoy our natural world.?

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    Mute Anthony Guinnessy
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    Apr 19th 2022, 1:17 AM

    @Irish big fellow: look up hyperbole in the dictionary

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    Mute Frank Emerson
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    Apr 18th 2022, 2:34 PM

    I’d love to know who the one in five are who do think this extra tax should be brought in are.

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    Mute pat seery
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    Apr 18th 2022, 2:31 PM

    More People heat there House With Oil than gas and Electricity put together where is ther Reduction
    Go Ryan Go please

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    Mute Charles Shelly
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    Apr 18th 2022, 1:10 PM

    Im surprised there is not a Civil war against the Government

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    Mute James Johnson
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    Apr 18th 2022, 2:03 PM

    Imagine we live in France, Do you honestly think that it would happen.
    The Country would be closed down.
    The Capitalism on Sunday’s is a thing close all retail on a Sunday make it a family day. Less driving to work and Shopping will be done mon to sat.
    We are all at fault here. Cut down a bit on everything

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    Mute Mark Costello
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    Apr 18th 2022, 1:49 PM

    Cancelled not postponed

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    Mute Tony Donoghue
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    Apr 18th 2022, 5:28 PM

    People don’t want a tax increase according to a poll, how shocking!

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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Apr 18th 2022, 8:25 AM

    I know I’m

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Apr 18th 2022, 2:13 PM

    Not sure what people are not getting regarding the carbon tax hike. The Green party will not allow themselves to be seen as ‘complicit’ in postponing it, so a new plan was devised whereby the same benefit was given through other means. All good as far as the greens are concerned. If the Greens had agreed to postponing the hike we wouldn’t have seen the upcoming vat reductions. Upshot is, by NOT postponing the carbon tax hike we will marginally better off than if the hike had been scrapped.

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    Mute Ian Coleman
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    Apr 18th 2022, 7:56 PM

    Science: We’re killing future people
    Article: Govt proposes not killing future people
    Comments: Time for a rebellion

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    Mute Colm de Cleir
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    Apr 19th 2022, 1:04 AM

    Isn’t the massive increase in oil price doing the job that this tax would have? You can’t just punish people for wanting to use oil, you have to make the alternative more attractive. Otherwise it’s just fining people for trying to live their lives. e.g. Public transport needs to be cheaper than driving the same journey, and by enough to offset the convenience of driving.

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