Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome this debate and the commitment by the Government to raise very important issues, such as energy prices. I welcome also the attempt throughout the EU to mitigate the impact of the price fluctuations and huge increases on vulnerable citizens and businesses. I am all for dealing with climate change, but I am concerned there is a rip-off in this country, especially in the sale of petrol and diesel. I had to visit Kerry over the weekend. A litre of petrol there was €1.64 but it can cost €1.70 in north County Dublin. There is a need for the Government to ensure prices are regulated and that inspectors can go in if people are ripping people off, which I have no doubt they are. It is time to change that. It is also time we challenge the ESB on climate change and the cost of its electricity supply. The ESB ought to be broken up and EirGrid ought to have ownership and not just management of the infrastructure.

A key point I want to make today is about the Irish protocol. As Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, I am especially concerned about the dangerous game being played by Lord Frost and others in the current Tory Government. It is leading to a crisis in our country, in Britain and in Europe. The Government is doing an excellent job in trying to ensure common sense prevails. Whatever is happening, what is hugely important for the North, the South and the EU is that a meeting take place between Prime Minister Johnson and the Taoiseach as soon as possible. I know it will not be possible to restore the status quo ante before Brexit but we need to restore the excellent relationships which were there before because now there are seeds of doubt, concern and worry.

I am especially concerned, as Chairman of the Good Friday Agreement committee, that the actions of the British Government towards the European Union are dividing whatever growing consensus and middle ground we had in the North and South. We need to ensure we have a vision for change.

The European Union has been especially supportive of us at all times in our attempts to ensure equality and fairness in society in the North continue. That will not be the case if the divisions that have been driven by the present British Government are allowed to continue unchecked.

Our relationship with the European Union is excellent and the EU has tried extremely hard to support this Government in trying to avoid dissonance in Europe, which was commented on yesterday in The Irish Times in that there were concerns that Irish boats and produce will be stopped on entry to the EU. That is driving the agenda for change in the North. The possibility of a united Ireland is something we all need to address. We in the South need to show our vision for the totality of relationships on this island and respecting all the traditions on our island in order that we move forward with a plan that will gain ground, especially among middle voters.

I wish the summit every success, but I will go back again to what I said at the beginning. We need to deal with the energy crisis in a more effective way, locally and internationally. People are worried, concerned and angry at some of the increases they know are being exploited by those who supply these services.

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