Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Social Democrats for tabling this motion and welcome the opportunity to give voice to households and small businesses in Mayo that are crippled by extortionate electricity and energy bills. You only had to listen to Midwest Radio this morning to hear people ringing in and talking about bills that used to be €250 but are now €1,000, €1,200 and beyond. They know they are being fleeced and they feel helpless to protect themselves from those that are allowed to exploit the war in Ukraine and make billions on the backs of ordinary workers and families. In my local area, the Corrib gas field's profits are estimated to be €556 million for the first six months of 2022. So much for our natural resources belonging to the people of Ireland.

The Government has dragged its feet on bringing in a windfall tax. Now it just a windfall tax on oil and gas companies, not electricity companies. People cannot understand this. In its public statements, the Government has intentionally confused the issue. The Government's response to growing anger was to claim it would apply a windfall tax on energy companies. Despite multiple statements in the Dáil and in the media, I had to seek a response in writing from the Minister where he confirmed that electricity companies will face no windfall tax.

See this speech in context