Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The situation in which we find ourselves in regard to our energy security is as a result of the failure of successive Governments to deliver the generation capacity, through power stations, renewables, gas storage facilities and batteries, to meet the very significant increase in demand. The Government is quick to blame the war in Ukraine but, in reality, the increased demand from industry and data centres was already creating a huge strain on our infrastructure. Ireland is the worst-prepared country in Europe for an energy crisis and the possibility of rolling blackouts this winter is a very real prospect. There has been Government inaction on a microgeneration scheme, wind energy guidelines, simplified grant schemes and a just transition. That is why we are facing this crisis.

The energy security review was commissioned by the Government almost three years ago. Its publication was long overdue and we now need to see action. We did not need a report to tell us that years of Government inaction has contributed significantly to our energy security crisis. The Government has failed to match energy supply with demand and to manage a just transition. The biggest failure of all is the failure to develop our massive offshore wind capacity, which has left us reliant on fossil fuels and exposed to extreme volatility in the international energy markets.

Microgeneration is a very deliverable solution. If we deliver the right grants scheme, there will be significant uptake of solar panels in particular. We need to support homes, farms and small businesses to provide their own microgeneration capacity. It would be the gift that keeps on giving.

Delivering energy security is vital to protect workers, families and communities against the growing cost-of-living crisis. In doing so, we can create huge opportunities, especially for young people, in the form of jobs that are highly skilled and come with good pay and conditions. Families are struggling. Last week, I was contacted by a constituent whose level monthly contribution to the energy supplier was going up from €147 to €360.

The reason they are on a level monthly payment is to avoid surprise bills. Their response to the increase was to cancel the direct debit. They are struggling to cope and, sadly, they are not alone.

Small business owners are also suffering. A member of my team showed me a TikTok from an Irish master butcher called Keith Grant. He recently uploaded a video of his business’s electricity bill. It was €2,500 for 25 days. That is €100 a day. Before he has to pay for rates, rent, wages or stock, he has to find €100 a day to keep the lights on. He says that the scariest part about it is that he made every efficiency he could. He put lights on sensors and water heaters on timers. He is fearful that he will lose his business. He is not alone. I spoke to a local business owner who is giving his business until Christmas. It is make-or-break time for him. It is make or break for this Government, which is completely out of touch and does not understand the scale of this crisis or the urgent need for action.

Yesterday, I mentioned energy- and water-hungry data centres. Data centres now consume as much electricity as all of the houses in rural Ireland. While demand for electricity has shot up, successive Governments and their agencies have failed to deliver electricity supply. We have the report, we know what to do with it but we need to act now before its too late.

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