Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

This morning President von der Leyen made a speech to the European Parliament about the energy and cost-of-living crisis affecting people across the continent. She said the energy companies are making revenues they never accounted for or even dreamt of. She is right about that. The Taoiseach can look up the figures for the big oil and gas corporations at a global level. I compared profits year on year, quarter 2 versus quarter 2, and Shell, Exxon, Chevron and BP have all tripled or quadrupled their profits. In this country, energy companies, while announcing record price increases for people, are also announcing record profits. It is similar with food companies and big corporate landlords.

The answer of the European Commission is a "deep and comprehensive reform of the electricity market". Is the problem not the fact that it is a market? Should we not recognise that electricity and energy supply should be a public utility in public control, not run for profit but for provision of this essential supply for people and to ensure a rapid and just transition to a zero-carbon economy? I think the majority of people agree with that. That is why tens of thousands of people will be on the streets on 24 September.

See this speech in context