Irish MEPs challenged on aviation fuel tax vote

THE European Parliament recently voted by 439 to 74, with 102 abstaining, for tax on aviation fuel.

Your report, however, said nothing about which groups supported this or how Irish MEPs voted.

Such total lack of transparency can only increase the sense of distance, and indeed alienation, which many voters feel about the whole European process.

The Green Skies Alliance are quoted as saying such tax might add £30 to a one-way flight.

This is over €43, while other reports suggest a rise of €60 to €100 per flight.

Six aspects of this concern me.

1. The vote. What opportunity was there for Irish voters to react before the event?

2. Such tax goes beyond Kyoto, and is a unilateral EU move. Is that economically appropriate, not least when Irish and other European airlines face strong US competition?

3. If a multilateral framework is to be used and developed, why pick on some areas for unilateral EU moves?

4. As Ireland is an island, access by air is extremely important, and should we not be very careful about increasing the costs of such access?

5. The trend is towards aircraft engines that are much more fuel efficient, and also cleaner as regards emissions. Was this recognised in the debate, and was any consideration given to rewarding or penalising engine performance as an alternative to crude tax measures?

6. The impact of such a tax will be greatly disproportionate for those on lower incomes. Air travel was once the preserve of those with higher incomes. Do we want to return to that era?

I would welcome the views of Irish MEPs on these six points, and also an indication of how both they and their group voted on this issue.

Tom Carew

Merton Drive

Ranelagh

Dublin 6