Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)

Families from all backgrounds are struggling. I meet people all the time, especially in my clinic and when I do my weekly grocery shopping. They tell me they are struggling with the high cost of groceries, the cost of housing and the high cost of utilities, such as electricity and gas. The cost of these utilities is not sustainable for hard-working families. The prices consumers are paying are rip-off prices and, despite the desperate need of citizens, the Government parties fail to take on the energy companies and work for the benefit of consumers. The average annual electricity cost for an Irish household is €1,752 per year. We have 300,000 households in arrears with their electricity bills, with the average arrears at €500. As the colder months approach, it is certain many more people will enter arrears or skip heating their own homes. It would be shameful if that happens.

The decision to liberalise the Irish energy market has led to increased prices for citizens.

It is a political choice not to address this challenge. The parties opposite in government are content to take the energy companies at their word regarding their prices. We in Sinn Féin want to provide the energy regulator with the power and resources to investigate the companies' profits and determine if these prices are simply profit driven. Wholesale energy costs have dropped dramatically in the past three years yet retail prices remain 75% higher than pre-2022 prices.

Ours is an energy market that functions not for families, but one that seems to prioritise the profits of these companies. In the past number of weeks, SSE Airtricity announced an increase in standard variable electricity prices of 9.5%, adding approximately €150 to the average annual bill. Bord Gáis Energy, Energia and Pinergy have all announced similar price increases. Despite this, the Government is determined not to introduce energy credits. We need reform of the energy market and to strengthen the power of the energy regulator to hold these companies to account. We need a focus on affordability and, crucially, transparency within the cartel-like energy market. Families need a break. They need help and the introduction of three energy credits of €150 each goes some way towards aiding them while we work towards holding these energy companies to account.

In the longer term, we must end our reliance on imported energy - 80% of energy is imported. There is significant offshore wind energy potential in Limerick. We have the deep port at Foynes and the potential to improve our electricity grid to make ourselves an energy-independent nation and deliver cheap energy to our people while exporting the excess but as usual, the Government acts at a snail's pace. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have an opportunity to support the constituents by supporting this motion but, unfortunately, I do not think they will do so.

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