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

Géarchéim uafásach atá againn maidir le praghsanna. Níl aon amhras ach go bhfuil an Rialtas ag déanamh a dhícheall cabhair agus tacaíocht a thabhairt do gach éinne: teaghlaigh éagsúla ar fud na tíre; gnóthaí; agus eagrais éagsúla atá ag obair ar son muintir na tíre san áireamh. Táimid ag tabhairt an-chuid tacaíochta do dhaoine agus bhí sé sin soiléir sa cháinaisnéis a bhí againn an tseachtain seo caite.

We are facing the worst global energy crisis since the 1970s, caused by Russia's immoral and unprovoked war on the people of Ukraine. We import approximately three quarters of the natural gas we use from the United Kingdom. Approximately half of our electricity is generated using gas and, therefore, spiralling gas prices feed through into higher electricity bills. The price today for UK gas on wholesale markets is 263 pence per therm. This day two years ago the price was 38 pence per therm and future markets are pointing to even higher prices in the coming months, with a therm of gas to be delivered in January costing 450 pence and March deliveries priced at 440 pence per therm. That is the background. We are in a war-time situation, which has brought about these extraordinary increases.

I agree with the Deputy that the response to a crisis of this scale needs more than words and that is why we announced unprecedented measures in the budget to support and help people to get through this winter, including electricity credits for all households totalling €600; a lump sum payment of €400 for fuel allowance recipients; a double-week payment to all qualifying social protection recipients in October and the normal Christmas bonus will also be paid; an extra €500 for working family payment and career support grant recipients in November; double child benefit of €140 per child in November; and 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. Significant additional funds will be provided to schools, which will see huge increases in their energy costs, and parents will be spared €650 through the provision of free school transport. The fees for third level institutions have been reduced by €1,000. Not-for-profit and voluntary organisations, local authorities, nursing homes and hospices will all get additional supports, as will third level institutions. We have also extended the reduction in excise duties and VAT on electricity and gas until the end of February. To protect jobs, we have introduced the temporary business energy support scheme, at a cost of €1.2 billion. We have also brought in tax cuts amounting to approximately €1.1 billion for middle-income earners and the social protection package of measures is worth more than €1 billion. These are not just words; they are actions that the Government has taken in respect of the cost-of-living package and the budget itself.

We did not agree with putting in place a cap with no detailed costing attached to it. We feel the better approach is to allocate funding to households, as well as trying to get downward pressure on energy consumption. One of the difficulties with the kind of cap the Deputy has proposed is that there is no acknowledgement of the crisis we are in, and the need to have greater energy efficiencies across the board in the workplace and reduce costs and consumption. Fundamentally, we are here to help. That is why we have not gone with the cap model, as proposed by the Deputy. We have been elsewhere there are different proposals. Where there is a proposal that is not costed and could involve a blank cheque for energy companies for two years or longer, that is something we have to be extremely careful about.

In respect of pay-as-you-go metres, as part of its statutory role, the CRU has very clear functions regarding consumer protection, including around disconnections and protections for those using prepaid meters. As part of responses 6 and 7 under the national energy security framework, the CRU announced enhanced consumer protection measures for implementation this winter, in particular for customers using prepaid meters. It has strengthened the protection. We are determined to give support to those people and others.

See this speech in context