'Cow tax' proposed to pay for emissions: Times

[kerrynorth]

The government are mulling over a 'cow tax' for pay for agri greenhouse emissions. To offset the expected €104million bill for agri emissions a tax of €13 per dairy cow, €7 per non-dairy and €1 per head of sheep is suggested. The agricultural sector accounts for 26% of Ireland's greenhouse emissions.

I can just see the FFers selling this at the farmgate in the elections and in the Lisbon rerun. Although some may suspect that it is all a load of Bull!

'Cow tax' may be introduced to reduce emissions - The Irish Times - Mon, Mar 09, 2009

[20000miles]

So a poll tax is not far away then. After all, we're Co2 emitters too...

[jmcc]

Cue the terribly sexist and quite obvious jokes about government ministers.

Regards...jmcc

[Pauli]

Cue the terribly sexist and quite obvious jokes about government ministers.

Regards...jmcc

I sure they will come.

This would be a revolutionary tax if introduced in Ireland. But in these difficult times, even farmers must step up to the plate and put on the green jersey!

[Destiny's Soldier]

It goes to show what an insidious organisation the EU is.

One of the 1st laws of Physics you learn is: Matter cannot be created or destroyed. It can only be converted from one form to another.

Thus Carbon in the form of Cellulosics or Sucrose in Grass, Silage or Grain gets broken down by bacteria in the ruminants stomach and released into the air in the form of Methane. However the Carbon in the Grass gets collected from the Air therefore Cattle are well and truly Carbon Neutral.

This is truly the end of any goodwill toward the EU for me.

[keepitreal]

The government are mulling over a 'cow tax' for pay for agri greenhouse emissions. To offset the expected €104million bill for agri emissions a tax of €13 per dairy cow, €7 per non-dairy and €1 per head of sheep is suggested. The agricultural sector accounts for 26% of Ireland's greenhouse emissions.

I can just see the FFers selling this at the farmgate in the elections and in the Lisbon rerun. Although some may suspect that it is all a load of Bull!

'Cow tax' may be introduced to reduce emissions - The Irish Times - Mon, Mar 09, 2009

This can only get worse. Fart Tax. Jesus H Christ.

[eskerman]

Man has created the carbon problem...too much in love with fossil fuels...Hummers and 5 ltr V8s all over the planet, not to mention all many other uses in industry etc. Cows etc have been around since the beginning of time, its sad we are now at a stage where one of our sources of food is being scapegoated for governments blinkered approach to the real causes of the so-called carbon emission problem....soft targets lads and lassies...soft targets..

The agri sector can contribute to an alternative energy, and all our government can do is find reason to tax them...******************************g crackpots

[atlantic]

I have mentioned this on a few posts that they would carbon tax ,farm animals.These cardon taxes allow governments to create thousands of different taxes.When they run out of space on the usual suspects(income,Property ,etc), carbon tax creation will be limitless,so get ready to be taxed to death.

[Ronanr]

Is there going to be any proportionate charge on imported meat or dairy products?

Otherwise it is just going to be a subsidy to foreign producers.

[YellowRedGreen]

Folks, Irish Times story based on a government memo from last July. I think you'll find that things were a little different then. Teagasc have since produced far more downbeat forecasts for animal numbers.
Also the D/ETE concerns about carbon leakage were addressed in the package agreed in late 2008.
Nothing to see here as the cliche goes