Rebecca Moynihan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House on this matter. There are two issues at play. This will be the winter of energy. There is a need for Ireland to transfer from a fossil fuel-based economy to an energy system based on renewables. We must exploit the significant potential we have in wind. That need is now more pressing than ever.

The cost of energy is spiralling out of control. That has people worried and staying up at night. They are wondering whether they can afford to heat their houses. People will inevitably fall into energy poverty. It is up to the Government to have a Covid-type response to the immediate concerns around the energy crisis. Energy costs will be unsustainable for people, families and, in particular, small businesses over the course of the coming winter. We are hearing reports from people whose energy bills are in some cases ten times as expensive as they were last year. Coming off the back of the Covid pandemic, many businesses will not be able to support that. Many people who are now working from home will not be able to support that. We need immediate action from the Government to alleviate the pressure and tackles the outrageous prices.

The Labour Party has said we need to take three crucial steps and they must be adopted by the Government to address the soaring costs of energy for households. We need the immediate introduction of a windfall tax on the excessive profits of energy companies. I take on board Senator Pauline O'Reilly's comments in that regard. However, a windfall tax is needed. We also need a maximum price cap on energy bills. Our neighbours are doing that. The Conservative Government in the UK is doing that. We also need to extend the eligibility for the fuel allowance for low- and middle-income households to protect those who are most at risk of energy poverty. These are significant short-term measures that will help people to get through the winter. We cannot justify a society in which exorbitant energy company profits are taking precedence over families in energy poverty. Some may say that cannot be done because we cannot afford it. We need to be cognisant of the fact the Department of Finance figures show a surplus of more than €6 billion so far this year. Many of our EU partners are already taking radical action in this area.

The Minister has said, and it has been reiterated in this House, that a longer term strategy needs to be involved. That strategy does not include things such as liquefied natural gas, LNG, or allowing turf to be commercially used. The strategy is not reliant on fossil fuels. We cannot use this crisis as an excuse for allowing that or allow certain people to use it as an excuse to make that argument. We are in this precarious position because of our lack of long-term planning. We must use this crisis as an opportunity to transition away from our current energy policy and not fall back on the old reliables. Beyond the emergency measures needed this winter, we need to adapt a long-term strategy and change our attitudes and policies to meet our climate targets through an approach that involves wind energy and exploiting our natural resources. We must not fall back on the old reliables. Diversifying our energy supply by pushing for more renewables will also enhance our energy security and ensure we will not be in this precarious position if another war breaks out on our eastern side in ten years' time.

Ireland has one of the best wind resources in the world. Wind energy could potentially make enough energy every year to power each home in this country and allow us to make money by selling it back to the European grid. We need to be become a superpower of wind energy. However, we will only do that through a strategic vision. We must not use every crisis as an opportunity to fall back. We hear whataboutery in respect of long-term energy policy in this country. I am glad Senators O'Reilly and Boylan, who are more expert than I am in this area, have tackled Senator McDowell's comments about LNG. I fear that is the debate that will come forth.