Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the proposers in the Regional Group for putting forward this motion on security of energy supply. Clearly, this is a hugely pressing issue and very topical as we face into what can only be described as a bleak winter ahead, a winter which we know many households and many struggling families and individuals, are already in fear of. All of us are meeting people around the country, in our constituencies, who are really fearful about the winter ahead, the cost of energy and the consistency of energy supply. We therefore face a twofold energy crisis this winter. It is about not only security and consistency of supply but also the cost and the affordability of energy. That is very clear.

In the Minister of State's opening remarks he pointed out that, even separate from the war in Ukraine, there were challenges to the security of electricity supplies in Ireland already. That is absolutely true. My colleagues in Labour and I have previously been highly critical of the failure of this Government to ensure delivery of previously contracted capacity. I recently sat in on a climate committee meeting at which we heard representatives of EirGrid and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities speak about that unfortunate failure to deliver previously contracted capacity and the effect it has had in creating a greater risk to the security of our energy supply. I therefore agree absolutely with the Minister of State that there are challenges to the security of energy and, in particular, of electricity supplies in Ireland this winter. Some of those challenges, however, were already clearly evident in the failure to deliver the contracted capacity. I think we all acknowledge that those challenges have been massively exacerbated, the concerns have been exacerbated and the costs have increased hugely due to Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin's weaponising of gas supplies across Europe. There is no doubt about that, and we are feeling the impact here.

Having said that, we are all also very much aware that it is clear we are not as exposed to Russian weaponising of gas supplies as other European countries are. The Minister of State and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, have previously pointed out that 75% of our gas is imported through the UK. Of course, we also have our own indigenous supply of gas in the Corrib gas field. I will speak about that in a moment.

I will speak first about a position that has been put forward by some. I know that the Minister of State did not refer to it in his opening remarks, but I am talking about the issue of storage and, in particular, suggestions in some quarters that we need floating LNG storage. I will say this on behalf of Labour. While we await the energy review report, to which the Minister of State has referred, we do not believe we need to see floating LNG terminals. I think any storage facilities could be contemplated only on the basis that they would be future-proofed. I think the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has made that same point. In other words, such storage facilities would have to be capable of being repurposed for green hydrogen or renewables. Otherwise, the introduction of such facilities would be a highly regressive measure.

I think we are also conscious that the countries that need floating LNG most are those, such as Finland and Germany, that were heavily reliant on Russian gas and that have had to diversify rapidly and that we are not quite in that position. Clearly, however, what we really need for energy security is a rapid and urgent deployment of increased renewable capacity, in particular offshore wind. We have supported the Government's attempts and Government measures to introduce the necessary planning framework to ensure we can develop offshore wind rapidly, but we need to see a much speedier roll-out. I am conscious there will be a conference next week, I think, or in the coming weeks for those involved in offshore wind. What I hear from stakeholders and wind energy companies is a real readiness to get these offshore wind terminals built and a frustration at the slow pace of roll-out. That is a key issue with energy security.

The other energy security issue I wish to raise - I raised it yesterday in the Dáil also - is the Corrib gas field. I ask both Ministers present to consider seriously how we can address questions and concerns about security of supply through taking a new approach to Corrib and Corrib gas. It makes no sense that Corrib gas should be priced as if it were internationally traded. It is produced here, off this island, and nothing has happened to increase the cost of production or supply of Corrib gas. I have called on the Government to use existing powers under the Fuels (Control of Supplies) Acts 1971 and 1982. Those powers were first invoked during the oil shortages in the 1970s. The legislation was amended in the 1970s by Fine Gael, in fact, to extend its coverage so as to include natural gas.

The Acts give the Government the power that if the exigencies of the common good necessitate the regulation or control by the State of the acquisition, supply, distribution or marketing of fuels, the Minister may then make all the necessary orders. The test is the exigencies of the common good. What we hear from people around the country is that the common good now demands the sort of emergency measures that would, for example, involve the taking over by the State, temporarily, of Corrib gas output so that it could be sold to the State on a cost-plus basis. This would reduce the cost to consumers and would in no small way go towards addressing the hardship and fear of so many families and businesses as they face into a winter with uncertainty around supply and cost.

In the House yesterday we spoke on the cost issue but it is worth repeating. Small business owners whom I have met say that the cost of their energy bills is now equating to or greater than the cost of their rent. As we all know, rent is a significant cost for any small business owner. It is usually the greatest cost that has to be factored in, but now energy bills are reaching that level. We heard about the shocking figure of €21,000 for an energy bill for a business in Roscommon. Households face projected costs of energy bills of up to €6,000 per year, three times what was the expected average energy bill for households. This is at a time when other costs are also increasing.

The cost-of-living crisis is biting so many households and family in terms of food prices, childcare, and rents. Here in Dublin Bay South, in this constituency, people contact me because they have been told their rents are going up, or they have been given a notice to quit. They simply cannot find affordable accommodation. People have told me that they have made and sent literally hundreds of phone calls and emails to landlords advertising properties. People who are renting apartments have told me that they are inundated and flooded with requests to rent, if they put a property up for rent just because there is such a shortage and costs are so high. This is the cost-of-living crisis that is really hurting and affecting so many people, families, households, and businesses. Energy costs and uncertainty around energy costs are a huge part of that.

The Labour Party has called on the Government to introduce a windfall tax in order to curb excessive profits of energy companies. We have called for a cap on energy prices as well as an expansion of the eligibility criteria for the fuel allowance. Some €15 million would mean 16,000 more families would be within the fuel allowance criteria. That would be one way of addressing hardship for those most affected and most in fear as we face into this bleak winter.

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