The Green Party today called on the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dick Roche, to introduce a carbon tax immediately to help reduce the burden of penalties from the Kyoto protocol on the Irish taxpayer.
Mr Trevor Sargent speaking on Grafton Street today.
Under the Kyoto protocol, which comes into effect tomorrow, Ireland has committed to keeping greenhouse emissions to 1990 levels plus 13 per cent. Ireland is running at 25 per cent the levels promised and is expected to be fined a minimum of €20 a tonne.
"This will result in a multi-million euro bill being loaded onto the Irish taxpayer, a fine that could be avoided, or at least substantially reduced, if a carbon tax was introduced," the Green Party leader Mr Trevor Sargent said.
"Climate change is a reality. Dick Roche and the Irish Government must take action now to address Ireland's appalling record in tackling this issue," he said.
Mr Sargent also called for more investment in renewable energies and for an energy rating to be introduced on new houses.
"The Government has spent more on its own PR than on investment in renewable energies, which was a paltry figure of €1.8 million last year," he said.
"The Government is spending four times more on roads than public transport - which makes absolutely no sense if we are genuinely committed to reducing our emission," the Green Party leader said.
The Green Party unveiled a campaign this afternoon with a giant weather balloon on Grafton Street, Dublin, and will hold a press conference tomorrow to mark Kyoto Day.