Michael Ring has been defending the new measures in Budget 2020.
The Rural Development Minister has dismissed claims that the carbon tax is a surcharge on rural Ireland.
It was increased by €6 a tonne in Tuesday's budget, which resulted in petrol and diesel going up by 2 cent per litre.
However, Michael Ring says everyone will be affected and not just people living in rural parts of the country.
He says it's important efforts are made to reduce our carbon footprint:
He also commented there weren't enough planes to bring people out of Ireland the last time Fianna Fáil were in government.
That barb follows criticism of his department by Fianna Fáil Offaly TD Barry Cowen in the Dáil earlier this week.
Minister Ring believes people haven't forgotten what happened:
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