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

I thank my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, for bringing this motion before the Dáil. We are facing a cost-of-living crisis in this State and one of the biggest contributors driving folks into energy poverty is the burden of rip-off energy bills. Energy poverty is a major problem in every constituency and it is only getting worse. Many families are forced to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table, which is not acceptable. We need to ensure that everyone has access to affordable energy regardless of their income. This is a clear example of how the market is not working for the people and the Government needs to take action to address this issue. Let me be clear: the Government is not doing enough to address the issue.

Despite falling wholesale prices, we have seen soaring profits for companies like Energia and Bord Gáis Éireann, while at the same time many families are experiencing energy poverty. That is why Sinn Féin is calling for the introduction of a windfall tax that is fit for purpose and captures the super-excess profits of energy companies in quarter 2 and quarter 3 of 2022. These companies have been making enormous excess profits at the expense of hard-working families and it is time for them to pay their fair share.

Some of our EU neighbours have helped households by capping electricity prices at the pre-Ukraine war levels but yet again, the Government has failed to act in this regard. Its delay in introducing a windfall tax has served to protect the profiteering of large energy companies. In addition, the recent increase in the carbon tax has only served to exacerbate the problem with low-income households in particular suffering as a result. It is now that families are dealing with huge energy bills. The Government cannot continue to ignore the situation on the ground and the struggle of folks to pay these bills. I ask the Government to act now and, by supporting our motion, provide financial relief to struggling families.

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