Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on the legislation. It is really disappointing that once again we are discussing financial issues without any real plan to give people certainty regarding their electricity bills. There was a bad cold snap in March and this caused a lot of fear and anxiety for many people. A cap on energy prices would have given them certainty about their next bill. It is vital to note that the TBESS is not running as it should. My colleagues, Deputies Doherty and Farrell, outlined earlier the mistakes the Government should have overcome so that businesses who badly need support and help would have gotten it. To allocate €1.2 billion and not deliver the scheme is a failure of the Government that affects many businesses that struggled to get through Covid-19, and once they got out the other side, struggled with the energy crisis. When the Government parties said they put a plan in place, it was out of the reach of so many ordinary businesses. This sends the wrong message to people. To give an example of how tough businesses are finding it from my own city of Cork, on St. Patrick's Street, which is the main street, one in five buildings is empty because the cost of business is to high. One in eight units are empty on Oliver Plunkett Street. A lot of businesses in Cork are not even talking about making a profit; they are talking about surviving so they need support. If the Government is really serious about supporting businesses and making it affordable for them and if we are trying to get more tourists and businesses into the city, the city needs to be vibrant and supported. Empty shop after empty shop is not attractive and that will not encourage people to come in and to spend their money. We need ideas that are outside of the box. Some are solutions such as meanwhile use, above-shop living, and cultural takeovers. They could transform Cork and other areas. It would be a welcoming environment and positive use rather than having buildings lie empty and unused.

I regularly speak to business owners based in Cork who tell me they are being crippled by energy bills. Once again the Government is failing to support them. The scheme does not apply to those who use oil or LPG. Where are their supports? This is another missed opportunity and another missed Finance Bill where the Government could have done so much more to support businesses but it has failed once again.

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