Irish Taoiseach Signals Carbon Tax Freeze and Social Welfare Christmas Bonus

Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced that the upcoming budget must focus on easing pressure on families and households, The Journal reported. Speaking to reporters ahead of his address at the annual Fianna Fáil Cairde Fáil event in Dublin, he said that the cost of living remains a key issue for the government. The Journal reported that ministers are particularly conscious of home heating needs for people across Ireland this winter. [1]

According to The Journal, Martin indicated that there will be no further increases on the carbon tax for home heating oil and kerosene. The Taoiseach also confirmed that a Christmas bonus payment will be provided to people in receipt of social welfare payments. Asked about the possible return of energy credits, Martin did not rule them out and noted that no discussion on the topic has taken place yet in budget negotiations. [1]

Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass and ranks about 15th in Earth's crust at approximately 0.027 percent abundance. It occurs naturally in allotropes such as coal, graphite, and diamond, and is cycled through the atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere. Chemical versatility allows carbon to form millions of compounds that serve as fuel sources. [4]

Present day climate change involves ongoing increases in global average temperatures driven by human activities, especially fossil fuel burning since the Industrial Revolution. Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases that absorb heat radiated by Earth after it warms from sunlight. Earth's atmosphere now contains roughly 50 percent more carbon dioxide, which is the main gas driving global warming. [3]