‘No to tax on greenhouse gas emissions’

FIANNA Fáil TD for Sligo-Leitrim Eamon Scanlon has hit out at a recommendation by the Citizens’ Assembly to impose a tax on agriculture emissions, claiming that it could put the viability of small family farms at risk. Responding to the propos- al, Deputy Scanlon said: “While climate change is one of the most pressing issues this country is facing, the recommendation from the Citizens’ Assembly to introduce a second carbon tax for farming is seriously flawed. In fact, in his presentation to the Assembly, Professor Alan Matthews admitted that the imposition of a new carbon tax would encounter “considerable practical difficulties” and would make Irish farmers “uncompetitive relative to producers in other countries. This measure would put Irish farmers at a serious disadvantage.”