Coming as businesses across the country look to improve their energy efficiency levels while simultaneously dealing with a looming recession, Eamon Ryan has stated that the government is looking into a range of options concerning cutting Ireland’s carbon footprint.

“I think this year we will see the introduction of a carbon tax or indeed other interim measures that provide that sort of strategic directions,” the minister said in an interview on RTE’s Morning Ireland Show.

“The reality is that’s going to happen,” he added.

At the same time, Mr Ryan used the opportunity of the interview to express his belief that Ireland needs to step up its energy sourcing initiatives, particularly now that the ongoing row over gas between Russia and the Ukraine looks set to carry on driving prices up.

The comments follow on from finance minister Brian Cowen’s claims that renewable energy will play a key role in Ireland’s economic success over the next few years.

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