Carbon tax 'will put jobs at risk'

GOVERNMENT plans to bring in a carbon tax to reduce greenhouse gases will cost information and communications technology (ICT) businesses over €30 million each year, according to ICT Ireland, which is part of employers' group IBEC.

ICT Ireland director Brendan Butler said the industry was "fundamentally opposed" to a carbon tax, which he said would damage competitiveness, contribute to higher inflation and eventually result in job losses.

The group said it recognised that Ireland needed to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions as a result of the Kyoto Treaty, the international agreement that aims to force countries to improve their policies on the environment.