Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government has acted. Some €12 billion has been provided over the past year and a half, which is 4.5% of our national income, to help households and help people cope with the cost-of-living increases brought about by the war in Ukraine and the inflation that came from the ending of Covid. Those have been in specific tax and expenditure measures. Eight lump-sum payments were arising out of budget 2023 alone. I think it is time for the commercial wholesale prices to be reflected in retail prices by the energy companies. It is about time that started to happen. We understood that there was a time lag just as there was a time lag on the other side. However, it is now time for the energy companies to reflect the significant reduction in energy costs that have happened at the wholesale level. I would point out that Government measures have reduced costs across the board, in health in particular and in education. The most immediate manifestation of that will be the free primary school books scheme that is under way right now. This is the first September when textbooks will be free at primary level. That is an example of the kind of measures we have taken to reduce the pressures and costs on households.

See this speech in context