Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies and the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. The issue of how to protect our people in this inflationary period is very important. This inflation is caused by international events that we do not have control over. I appreciate the contributions from Deputies and their good intent in coming forward with proposals. This matter will not end with this Bill but it is a significant step in the right direction. It is very practical, immediate and deliverable. What it proposes can be done in a timeframe that will allow it to have an effect as the bills start to hit in the coming months. It addresses the core part of the problem, which is higher bills, particularly for gas, electricity and heating because of the high fossil fuel prices. I thank the Deputies for allowing us to get this Bill through. We will have to go to the Seanad and then put the Bill's provisions into action straight away to affect the bills of households right across the country.

I will finish by thanking my officials. They have done the Department and the Civil Service proud in turning it around really quickly. I thank them for their professional approach and their help in delivering the Bill. It is their Bill in terms of all the practical arrangements that had to be put in place to make it happen. I very much recognise their work as central to this whole process.

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