The carbon tax is supposed to be an environmental tax to drive behavioural change when it comes to the use of fossil fuels. In such circumstances the most effective tax is the one that brings in little revenue because it is doing what it should do, namely, driving behavioural change. Today, a carbon tax has no impact on behaviour because …
Builders to tell Housing Minister to refurbish vacant homes – Naughten
Time to remove “demand test” from Government’s refurbishment scheme The construction industry will tell Government it must do far more to bring vacant property back into use when it meets with Minister Darragh O’Brien later today to discuss the current housing emergency, says Denis Naughten TD. “This is the very point that I have been making for some years,” …
Why Ireland won’t benefit from US natural gas deal
Last Friday, the European Council accepted an offer from the US for deliveries of natural gas to reduce our dependence on Russian gas and to help address energy costs. Because natural gas is a key element of electricity generation in Ireland, it has to the potential to reduce costs here. But as we have no way of storing the gas, …
Data centres pushing up electricity costs for families – Naughten
Irish families are paying for some of the most expensive electricity in Europe in part due to the fact that they are subsidising the supply of electricity to data centres, a practice which must be stopped by the Government, says Denis Naughten TD. Addressing the issue in the Dáil last Thursday he told the Minister for Finance that Irish …
Trinity must engage with Government & public on future science gallery – Naughten
Denis Naughten TD has called on Trinity College to actively engage with both the Government and the public on its proposed new science gallery model following the gallery’s closure at the end of last month. “Earlier this week the Minister for Further and Higher Education; Research; Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, told me that not only is public funding …
Trinity must engage with Government & public on future science gallery – Naughten
Denis Naughten TD has called on Trinity College to actively engage with both the Government and the public on its proposed new science gallery model following the gallery’s closure at the end of last month. “Earlier this week the Minister for Further and Higher Education; Research; Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, told me that not only is public funding …
Credit Union Update
I recently attended a meeting of local Credit Unions to explore ways that they could help support local economic growth. I firmly believe that the Credit Union movement has a key roll to play when it comes to providing community banking across many parts of Ireland, now that the main banks have left. The basic independent banking infrastructure already exists …
Government plan to bring people back into our towns welcomed – Naughten
Local TD Denis Naughten has welcomed the publication of the Government’s Town Centre First strategy, which will build on work already taking place to bring families and businesses back into towns across County Roscommon and East Galway. “There is no doubt there must be a focus on bringing families back into vacant houses, particularly when we have 45,000 vacant homes …
Ireland’s industrial policy undermined by confusion over Science Gallery future – Naughten
Denis Naughten TD has called for immediate clarity on the future of the Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin following the Taoiseach’s comments that the Government has offered to fund the facility “for a number of years” and is awaiting a submission from the University. Responding to Deputy Naughten in the Dáil this afternoon, the Taoiseach stated that the closure …
€700k to help regenerate Strokestown – Naughten
Over €700,000 will be spent on plans to regenerate Strokestown and strengthen the town’s links with Strokestown Park House by Roscommon County Council in conjunction with the Department of Rural & Community Development, says local TD Denis Naughten. This project aims to address vacancy, integrate the town with Strokestown House and support the growth of further retail and indigenous business …