Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are obviously dealing with a circumstance of astronomical prices, whether we are talking about diesel, petrol or home heating oil.

I do not think it makes any sense whatsoever to add to that. As has been said by many, the Government is leaving people behind and there is no logic to that. The only logic in regard to carbon tax was from the point of view of pushing people in a particular direction. The alternatives were not always there, but that has happened naturally in a dramatic way and I do not think there is any argument regarding carbon tax.

Due to the guillotine, I am disappointed that I will not be able to deal with amendment No. 69, which seeks that the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS, be considered as a means of providing mitigation to those people who are in gas fed communal district heating systems and are currently paying astronomical mortgage level bills. I have spoken to the Minister and others about the real solution that is needed, namely, changing how the heat is produced and moving away from gas to woodchip, geothermal or whatever. That will involve grants schemes and a huge amount of capital expenditure. There are ways to do that and communities like Carlinn Hall are considering those solutions. However, in the short term we need mitigations and TBESS payments could be given to companies in residential areas. The likes of Frontline Energy would be paid, but the money would be ring-fenced and provided as mitigation in bills to residents who are under astronomical pressure.

This issue has been spoken about by many others, and whether it is dealt with here and now or at a later stage the fact is it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible by the Government. We need a long-term solution and a short-term solution, and I believe that now is the time to address that. The TBESS could be the means of doing that. I beseech the Minister to look at that.

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