Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have intervened. I reject Deputy Murphy's presentation of this. The measures we have taken of putting cash into people's accounts and reducing the bills are unprecedented. I read out the list. The measures we have taken have an impact. The impact they should demonstrably have is that people should not be cut off, by definition, given the scale of the energy credits, free fuel allowance and double payments, right across the board. Very substantial provision has been made right to the end of this year and into the two bill periods in early spring.

In addition, social protection is there to protect people from being disconnected in the event of their making a presentation to say that if they do not get "X", their electricity will be cut off. The CRU has also provided strong protections with regard to this. People should not have their heating or electricity cut off in the middle of winter.

The Government will work with providers and the CRU, the statutory body regulating this area. The Deputy is too dismissive of the extraordinary measures that have been included in the budget in respect of supports given to people on the lowest incomes in terms of the variety of payments that I outlined earlier. That was not spin. It is reality. The Deputy tends to do a lot of spin, when it suits, on a whole range of issues.

These are facts that have been outlined with regard to the budget 2023 measures we have taken. There are now €600 in energy credits. There is a lump-sum payment of €400 to fuel allowance recipients, a double-week payment to all qualifying social protection recipients in October and the normal Christmas bonus will be paid. There is an extra €500 for recipients of working family payments and carer support grants and a double child benefit payment in November. There is a once-off payment before Christmas of €200 to recipients of the living alone allowance and €500 to those on disability allowance, invalidity pension and the blind pension and additional funding across the board for a range of not-for-profit and voluntary organisations to help with energy costs and so forth. These measures will have an impact.

If we did not have all of those measures, I accept the point that there could be disconnections and so on. However, these measures will have impact and we will keep monitoring how this works in reality.

We have an idea from the future pricing as to where the costs or price rises could go in early spring in particular and towards the end of the year. We will continue to work with all concerned to ensure people are not cut off.

I do not agree at this stage with the idea of nationalising the entire energy system. That would have enormous cost implications that would have to be worked out and I do not think the Deputy has made any presentation in respect of that.

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