Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Ceann Comhairle. Last week, Bord Gáis announced massive price hikes for gas and electricity that will add a further €350 per year to the average gas bill and an €340 to electricity bills. This is the Government credit wiped out before it even arrives. Meanwhile, nothing has been done to cut the cost of home heating oil, which has doubled in 12 months. Workers and families have been hit by a barrage of energy hikes, with more than 30 in the past year. They are already struggling to keep up and have been left absolutely stunned by the scale of the latest increases.

Russia's criminal invasion of Ukraine has brought massive disruption and volatility to global energy markets. Everything that can be done should be done and must be done to mitigate the impact and to cut bills for hard-pressed households. The Tánaiste's Fine Gael colleague, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, has stated that the Government has no plan to intervene with further measures before October's budget. October is seven months away. That is a very long time for households when every single euro counts and when the sky-high bills for rent, mortgages, groceries, childcare and insurance just keep coming. It is endless. Everything is going up and up, and nothing is coming down. People are living under real stress and pressure. Research from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul shows that many people are cutting back on essential heating and electricity use. Families are forgoing other necessities, including food. The head of the charity ALONE has said that many older people now choose between heating or eating. Nobody should have to make a choice like that.

We are aware that this is not the end and that there are more energy hikes coming down the tracks. The real impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on energy costs will not be felt until the back end of the year. We need to get ahead of this. We need to get on top of this crisis. People expect the Government to respond with a speed and urgency that matches the unprecedented difficulties they now face and to intervene with measures that will work in the context of getting energy bills down, keeping money in people's pockets and giving some breathing space. People need us and they need the Tánaiste to do this now. I understand that the Government cannot do everything, but it can do more. It must go further in order to cushion households from these hikes. Expecting people to wait for seven more months is just a non-runner.

Ní féidir le hoibrithe agus teaghlaigh coinneáil suas leis na harduithe fuinnimh seo. Tá sé ráite ag an Aire Airgeadais go mbeidh ar dhaoine fanacht go dtí an buiséad i nDeireadh Fómhair sula ndéanann an Rialtas gníomhú. Tá sé sin do-ghlactha. Caithfidh an Rialtas gníomhú inniu chun na billí fuinnimh a ísliú.

I am asking that the Government do two things, and do them urgently. First, I ask that it engage with the European Commission and remove VAT on energy bills for at least three months. Second, I ask that the excise duty on home heating oil be removed. These are two specific measures that will bring the cost of energy and fuel down for struggling households and businesses.

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