Green Party Senator, Déirdre de Búrca has welcomed the first Budget in the State’s history to contain a strong ‘green’ dimension. Senator de Búrca said it placed a strong emphasis on the fight against climate change and that there were new measures to start curbing carbon emissions through innovative changes to vehicle registration tax and motor tax. There are also new incentives for companies to switch to less polluting, more fuel-efficient cars.

‘’Budget 2008 shows that the Green Park can deliver in government in co-operation with our coalition partners. It is a very good start – and one we intend to build upon during the coming four and a half years,’’ Senator de Búrca said. She pointed out that both Green Minister John Gormley’s own department and Minister Eamon Ryan’s Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Communications – had benefited from significant increases in funding. These increases came in spite of reduced government tax revenues and were evidence of this Government’s determination to tackle the environmental challenges facing Ireland in the 21st Century.

‘’I am also pleased that many of these initiatives promote enterprise and industry and will help generate jobs in environmentally friendly business’’ she said. The commitment to a new energy efficiency tax credit allowing companies write off 100 percent of capital spending on energy-saving technologies,’’ she said. She also welcomed plans to ease access to the Business Expansion Scheme for firms involved in recycling, and new incentives for biofueld producers through a lowering of VAT on seeds and bulbs.

‘’I am encouraged that social welfare recipients received decent welfare increases with half of the overall increase in current spending devoted to pensions, child benefit and other payments. This is something we have worked for in government and we are pleased to see it reflected in this Budget,’’ Senator de Búrca said. She also welcomed the positive thrust of the tax changes which mean minimum wage earners are outside the tax net while workers on the average industrial wage pay at the lower rate. ‘’I am pleased to see carers getting a better deal and that pensions are increased. I welcome special benefits for retired couples, one of whom is receiving the so-called ‘qualified adult allowance,’ which will mean € 41 per week extra for them,’’ Senator Boyle said.

Senator de Búrca welcomed the increase of €83m for overseas development aid which will bring the overall donation to 0.54% of Ireland’s GNP.

For further information please contact
Senator Déirdre de Búrca on (086) 806 1450

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Press Release by Deirdre