Government pushes back on Europe-wide carbon tax plan

Eamon Ryan says the EU is trying to put in place what Ireland already has, and that there is ‘significant kickback’ against the proposal by other member states

Eamon Ryan said Ireland was already implementing a politically agreed carbon pricing system, and that there was a ‘risk’ of backlash if Europe was seen to be the source of increasing carbon prices for consumers. Picture: Fergal Phillips

The Irish government has pushed back on EU proposals to create a new emissions trading scheme for transport and heating fuels, questioning the wisdom of what would effectively be a Europe-wide carbon tax.

Attending a meeting of environment ministers in Slovenia last week, Eamon Ryan, the Minister for the Environment, said Ireland was already implementing a politically agreed carbon pricing system through its carbon tax, and that there was a “risk” of backlash if Europe ...