Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)

Energy prices in Ireland are extortionate. Annual gas bills are €120 higher here than in other EU countries. When it comes to electricity bills, they are €350 higher. These sky-high prices, on top of extortionate and exorbitant housing costs, are causing real hardship for people. As we speak, a whopping 440,000 households around the country are in arrears. The previous Government introduced a tax on windfall profits. A total of €189 million was collected, but it is just sitting there. It was supposed to have been used to reduce energy costs but the Government has not acted. When will the Minister get around to using the windfall profits to reduce costs? Will he reintroduce the tax on windfall profits that has lapsed?

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