Michelle Murphy, a research and policy analyst at Social Justice Ireland, advocates a carbon tax on food, regular meetings for communities to decide the best way to tailor a just transition to their particular needs, and targeting electric vehicle grants at those living in rural Ireland

The change is also expected to affect the private sector, as most firms use public sector mileage rates when paying travel expenses to staff

The revelations indicate how much the existing regime in Ireland requires much greater tightening and far more disclosure