A Sinn Féin politician has hit out at the government over the failure to meet its carbon emissions targets, warning it could cost potentially cost the taxpayer €150 million.

Brian Stanley, a Laois TD, spoke out, highlighting the government's inability to divest fossil fuels and target polluters in industry.

Teachta Stanley said: "It has been clear to anyone looking at Ireland's carbon emissions that, not only would we fail to meet our targets, we would fail to reach those targets by a long way indeed.

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"Fine Gael seem content to fritter away the taxpayers' money for their own incompetence. The failure of Fine Gael to take climate change and Ireland's role seriously will cost the taxpayer potentially €150 million.

He continued: "Rather than focus on the polluters such as industry and large multinationals, the Government will force a punitive carbon tax onto the Irish people. That will not solve climate change, that will only push struggling families closer to the brink.

"Aggressive fossil fuel divestment and a move to clean, renewable energy must be the first course of action for the Irish government, not buying carbon credits and effectively burning money.

"Just like with the Children's Hospital, Broadband, and now climate change, Fine Gael seem to believe that there is a bottomless pit of money available to spare their blushes. I'm sure the Irish taxpayer would disagree."

(CM/MH)