Eamon Ryan: 'Sinn Féin will not get rid of carbon tax' because party 'knows it's working'

Environment minister said tax goes to social welfare, retrofitting and farming

Environment minister Eamon Ryan: 'No one's going to get rid of the carbon tax because that would be insane. You'd have to replace it with something else.'

Sinn Féin will not abolish the carbon tax if it goes into government as doing so would be “insane”, Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has said.

Mr Ryan said he believed Sinn Féin needed to “dramatically” up its game on climate and the environment, but he would not rule out going into government with the party in future.

“First, Sinn Féin will not get rid of the carbon tax. Like that's absolutely clear,” Mr Ryan said.

“Sinn Féin, every budget says, 'oh we are opposed to an increase in carbon tax. We pocket all the money and all the gains again from last year,' Because Sinn Féin knows that it is really working.

“It works for the poor people in this country,” Mr Ryan added, citing the portions that go towards social welfare, retrofitting and farming.

“Thirty per cent goes towards social protection, increasing social welfare, 55% goes to retrofitting, that’s one reason why we're such a success because everyone knows it's going to come in every year, it's not budget-dependent.

“So the industry can scale up and hire someone knowing it's going to be there again next year. It's going to be bigger.”

The Green Party leader said no party would seek to remove the carbon tax, as it would then need to be replaced with a different tax.

“So no one's going to get rid of the carbon tax because that would be insane. You'd have to replace it with something else. You’re going to have to go to those warmer homes and say, sorry, folks, we changed our mind.”

Asked if he believed Sinn Féin was compatible with the Green Party due to its stance on the carbon tax, Mr Ryan said it was not possible to rule out any one party and climate should not be turned into “a divisive political issue”.

However, Mr Ryan said Sinn Féin would need to start being honest about the carbon tax and admit it is working.