The government's proposal for increased carbon tax has been met with heavy criticism from Sinn Féin.

The party has reaffirmed its opposition to the proposal following a meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action on Wednesday 25 September.

The Department of Finance was required by the Committee to undertake a review and analysis of Energy Poverty across the State and to complete that work by 30 June. The Department failed in its compliance obligation and failed to provide an adequate explanation at the meeting, therefore the Committee was unable to reach a conclusion on the matter.

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Teachta David Cullinane has slammed the government for "ploughing ahead" with the proposal with "complete disregard for its impact on energy-poor households".

"It is not the function of the Climate Action Committee to give cover to the Government for its tax policy decisions, most especially those which cannot substantiate a carbon emissions outcome," he commented.

"Sinn Féin will not be complicit in such a ruse. 

"Furthermore both the ESRI and the Dept of Finance confirmed yesterday that Carbon Tax is in fact already regressive, is nothing more than a revenue raising exercise, and any further increase will widen poverty and inequality between lower-income and higher-income households. 

"Sinn Féin has been saying this since last March and it is the primary reason the Party dissented from the proposals to increase the tax as published in our Minority Report. 

"Sinn Féin is steadfast in its position that a tax on carbon is nothing more than a shameful smoke-and-mirrors tactic to rationalise an unjust tax and appease the over-consumption of wealthy polluters. 

"We will continue to oppose this regressive revenue raising hustle in every way, shape and form."

(CM/JG)