Ireland's Taoiseach Micheal Martin says the government will not raise the carbon tax on home heating oil for the rest of its term. The move comes ahead of Budget 2027, with ministers citing the energy crisis and pressure on households this winter. The increase for this year had already been postponed. The decision weakens the carbon price signal in Ireland's residential heating sector, where oil still heats many rural homes. It also shows how politically difficult it is to keep raising fuel taxes during an energy price spike. The article does not mention any replacement incentive for heat pumps or home retrofits. For carbon market and climate policy watchers, this matters because it removes a predictable tool for cutting heating emissions. The government is still expected to announce welfare and pension increases in the budget, but the bigger question is whether retrofit support will fill the gap left by the paused tax.
