Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)

I absolutely reject the idea that we are playing to the Gallery. With respect, what I have heard from the Taoiseach does not do anything for the 300,000 households in arrears on their electricity bills or the 185,000 in arrears on their gas bills.

The Taoiseach is talking about reviews and task forces. I do agree structural reform is needed because what we are seeing is that the liberalisation of energy markets has failed. Competition has not delivered fairer prices for consumers. Energy companies are not competing with each other to reduce prices for consumers; rather, a price hike by one seems to be giving an excuse for a price hike to the rest. We do need structural reforms, but where are they? Why are we not seeing, for example, a levy of the profits of energy companies where they are not reducing prices for consumers? I read out the record profits the energy companies are reaping. Why are we not seeing action by the Government to target them? Why are we not seeing the sort of action I have listed that is possible under powers the Government has? Crucially, why are we not seeing more action on a moratorium on disconnections? For vulnerable consumers, there is a moratorium-----

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