Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The same issue pertains. The Minister knows and understands that and he does not want to recognise it. The cap does not give certainty. Neither the Minister or I know where energy prices could go. We do not know what could happen. There is forward purchasing in energy prices, with signals being provided for months ahead on energy prices increases, and gas operates on an eight-month trajectory whereby the product is purchased and then the impact is seen many months later. I am not suggesting that we will see increases in that scale.

I will make the point - because the Minister makes political accusations but I am just talking facts and figures - that he has no knowledge or cannot assure himself on where energy prices will go in the future. Nor can I but I built a 50% increase into my scheme from December on, just to make sure we had a buffer. The Minister has ensured that a €10,000 cap will apply to the larger consumption of energy companies but if unit prices go through the roof, these costs will balloon significantly.