Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I refer to a letter sent to the European Commissioner for energy last night signed by 15 EU member states, namely, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain, all calling on the EU to introduce a price cap on gas imports coming into the bloc to help member states mitigate the inflationary pressure the price of energy is putting on member states. Ireland's signature is conspicuously missing from that letter and I would like an explanation from the Minister, Deputy Ryan, as to why that is the case. If he will not introduce an energy price cap at a member state level, why will he not at least support such a price cap at an EU level when 15 member states are calling for it? They are doing so because they know the only way we can put downward pressure on the inflationary pressure that is coming and give certainty to households is to have a price cap. It is deeply disappointing Ireland did not sign up to that measure ahead of Friday's meeting of energy ministers.