A surprising decision has seen the government passing carbon budgets through the Dáil last night without a formal vote. The move has been criticised by the Rural Independent Group who say that there was a lack of opposition regarding last night’s decision.
The carbon budgets will determine the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that may be emitted in Ireland in a given five-year period. However, six members of the group voiced their opposition to the budgets and sought a formal vote. Fewer than 10 TDs opposed the budgets and due to this a vote was not required.
The Rural Independent Group claim that the carbon budgets “have the potential to bankrupt the country, while crippling the public with taxes and debt”. Leader of the group, Mattie McGrath says, “the failure of TDs, especially other opposition TDs, to support our group in the Dáil last night, allows the government to proceed with carbon budgets until 2030, despite the public having no detail on the spending required, the cuts to be imposed or the additional taxes and debt to fund it.”
McGrath claims that the budgets will give Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan “the power to impose unpreceded levels of economic pain on every sector of the Irish economy”. He states that the reality is that the cost of everything from milk to petrol and diesel will increase drastically.
McGrath cited an International Monetary Fund (IMF) report outlining that the measures will cost around €23 billion per year. The TD claimed the measures will impact on rural one-off housing and give the government the power to ban turf cutting.