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

It was announced last week that we now have the highest energy prices in Europe. Our cost of housing was found to be 88% higher than the EU average and prices across the board were 40% higher, but wages do not match up. Ireland's low-income earners earn far less than their European counterparts. One in five Irish homes are now behind in paying their gas bills. These people are terrified. They are going into debt with bills stacking up on them and they need help. They need a small bit of support and that is what we are asking for now. We are asking for the Government to go back and say, "We can't do everything, but we'll do something", but it is doing nothing in my opinion.

We are entering the time when families look forward to schools being off. Does the Minister know how difficult it is for them? I have spoken to families who cannot send their kids to summer camp. They are cutting back by not going on holidays or reducing what they are doing for the summer. They cannot afford childcare when their kids will be off and they will be at work. These are the real costs that actual families and people are facing. The Government has a chance now to support families and to support those people who are struggling.

A windfall tax as was implemented in other European countries would see the huge profits from energy companies brought back to the State. Last year the rising prices for ordinary families were just unbelievable. The ESB, our own ESB, made a profit of €649 million, double what it made in 2021. We need to bring energy prices down because people need support. Today, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul outlined that 377,000 people are in energy poverty. We always knew Fine Gael would back big business and we knew Fianna Fáil would back big business but some people had faith in the Green Party holding the line. However, it has completely capitulated. When ordinary people needed support, they thought the Green Party would be there, but it has gone down the same road as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael by looking after big business and forgetting about ordinary people.

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