Unfair Carbon Taxation - Farming | farming news | cattle prices | ifa

Unfair Carbon Taxation

Written by Cian MacSweeny
Thursday, 17 July 2008
David Wilkinson, IFA Countryside Chairman, has asked the Minister for Environment, John Gormley to acknowledge and address the differences between rural and urban families with regard to calculating the proposed carbon tax. The IFA Countryside Chairman was speaking in relation to an ESRI report which stated that rural families would be worst affected by the proposed carbon tax setting them back in excess of €208 per year. Mr. Wilkinson said, “This report confirms that those living in the countryside are once again the scapegoats of government policy. On one hand we in the countryside are faced with the closure of essential services such as post offices, Garda stations and petrol stations, forcing rural dwellers to travel long distances. Then we are told we have to pay more tax for the privilege.” He concluded saying, “The Minister must ensure that the proposed carbon taxes are applied fairly and all people regardless of where they live are treated equally and that the proposed carbon taxes do not become another stealth tax on rural dwellers.”