Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

One in eight is in arrears on electricity bills. The price to produce electricity is €50 per kWh. The Government is allowing electricity companies to charge at €120 per kWh - that is what it is capped at. The Government then talks about a windfall tax. With all the VAT that applies even on the reduced price of electricity at the moment, the Government is still up compared with when it was at a lower cost because of tax. Who gets to pay the tax? It is the working people again. Not only is the Government taking tax from them on fuel at 50 cent per litre, it is now getting tax on energy in their homes. It then turns around to all the small businesses that are trying to stay open despite increasing costs right down to food and a cup of coffee. What has the Government done there? It is putting businesses out of business. Who is paying the extra tax on the cost of living? It is everybody who uses the businesses; it is taxed again. In the history of the State, the Government has never taken as much in taxes from the people at a time of an economic downfall. It has never taken as much money from the people. Whom does it hit the most? It is the working people in this country. I hope the Government Members get their answer at election time because I know what I will be giving them.

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