Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 18 October 2022

Select Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Estimates for Public Services 2022 (Supplementary)
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is why the Social Democrats have not been asking for a cap. If there was one, it would again not be a targeted measure. If there were to be a cap, therefore, it would have to be a targeted one. The main reason people are reducing their energy use now is because of a price mechanism. A price driver is causing this. For wealthy people, however, no price driver will make them reduce their energy use. Not only is this the case, but the Government has now given people in this situation more money, which will mean negating any price drivers which might exist.