Finance Bill 2026 [Certified Money Bill]: Committee and Remaining Stages
Seanad Éireann — 2026-07-07
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Sarah O'Reilly (AON), Agricultural Panel

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I wish to ask about a few things. I am looking for an assessment to be carried out , and the Minister of State’s indicated that this would give rise to a great cost for the Exchequer. The Government can be accused of the same thing I can be accused of, however, which is not having actual facts. What is the nature of that great cost? How much is it? That is what this recommendation is looking for, namely an assessment of the estimated annual reduction in tax receipts and the options available. It is about seeking other options. The social protection measures are very welcome, but we have the new working poor. These are the people we are most worried about, and the carbon tax affects them the most.
The Minister of State also indicated that my suggestions would only prolong the scheme times. I do not agree with him. We do not know that. I do not think that this has been thought through or that the alternatives have been investigated by the Government. Such alternatives should be investigated. That is all the recommendation asks of the Government.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-07-07/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:55:09+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-07-07