Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Households across Ireland and Europe are under severe financial pressure this year because of the energy crisis created by the Russian tyrant, his occupation of an independent and sovereign state and his control of the natural resources we in Europe rely on so heavily to light and heat our homes and to run our industries. Nobody should be under any illusions about this. The reason energy costs are surging is because of Vladimir Putin. It is important to state that because speaker after speaker, with the exception of Deputies Bacik and Griffin, have ignored this fundamental point. I welcome the €600 electricity credit that will help people with the increased cost of living in the short term this winter but I am a bit confused by the Sinn Féin position. Deputy O'Rourke stated his party disagrees with the Government's approach. It seems Sinn Féin disagrees with it so much that its members will still vote for it. This makes no sense to me. If it disagree with the Bill, I suggest they should have the courage to vote against it. I say the same about the Social Democrats.

In addition to the electricity credit, this Bill provides for a temporary elimination of the National Oil Reserves Agency, NORA, levy, as a cost-of-living measure. The levy is being eliminated so that we can continue with the planned increase in carbon tax. The increase in the carbon tax is offset by the reduction in the NORA levy so that oil prices to consumers are not increased while revenues from the carbon tax are protected. The NORA levy is important for funding the climate action fund. I am very happy to hear that the fund will be replenished by the Exchequer to ensure that important climate projects such as the installation of solar panels on schools can go ahead.

I mentioned the carbon tax and how this Bill is utilising the NORA levy to keep the agreed carbon taxation plan on track. The money collected through carbon tax is ring-fenced for retrofitting, extensive social welfare payments and for agriculture to transition from unsustainable practices to those that support and improve the viability of family farms and restore the damaged environment. It is vitally important to maintain the carbon tax fund at a national level so that we can keep funding the green transition in a just way. Almost €10 billion will be raised by the carbon tax and this will flow back to families and communities while also nudging society towards less carbon-intensive practices.

I commend the Bill. It is the right thing to do to pay energy consumers €600 to help them deal with the surge in energy costs caused by Vladimir Putin's war of aggression on Ukraine and on Europe. I especially welcome the Minister's efforts to address anomalies that surfaced the last time a payment like this was made, in particular that a payment will be made to those members of Traveller families who do not have a dedicated meter point reference number.

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