Carbon tax on fire logs
Senators discuss the new carbon tax and its potential employment effects, with Senator Brennan seeking an urgent review of its application to fire logs used by a local company.
I compliment my colleague, Senator Mary White, on recognising the advantage of the new bridge and what the Taoiseach should be doing. I assure her that the Taoiseach has the matter in hand and is meeting his Northern counterparts and the British Prime Minister on the very same issue, which is political. Her colleague and my friend from north County Louth, Councillor Peter Savage, will be delighted by what she has had to say this morning.
I know carbon taxes on coal and briquettes have been introduced today. Standard Brands which is not a small company as it employs 100 people in Killcare and Castlebellingham, County Louth, mainly manufactures fire lighters and has done so for many generations. It manufactures a fire log. I think it is the log end of the business to which the carbon tax applies. It is a glorified firelighter which compliments what Standard Brands already manufactures. It is a substitute for similar imported logs from Germany and the Netherlands.
Comment on this
I do. I ask him to consult the Minister, his Department and Revenue. They are really splitting hairs. It is not a log as one might-----
Comment on this
It is not one for the Adjournment. It must be dealt with quickly as the tax has been introduced from today. I am asking for a review of the inclusion of the fire log which is not used in the same way as a briquette or a bucket of coal. It is a glorified firelighter. I, therefore, ask the Leader to ask the Minister to review the matter, as eight to ten jobs could be lost.