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agree on all of it and that is fine and healthy but we agree that we are living through a cost-of-living crisis, that the cost of kerosene and energy is very high, that we need to look at measures to try to assist people and that … that there are global factors. Not everybody is equally affected. We all know that and that is why targeted measures through the fuel allowance are also important to reach those most at risk of fuel poverty. Not everyone is at risk of that. The cost of living

which must be borne in mind, including wholesale energy prices, system operation costs and supplier hedging. In Ireland, our reliance on imported fossil fuels, specifically gas, for electricity generation, has been a long-standing driver of higher energy costs. Furthermore, our location as an island on the periphery … taken a prudent approach to hedging which had the benefit of protecting final customers from the very worst effects of the wholesale price crisis. Conversely, hedging limits the ability of suppliers to reduce prices immediately in line with wholesale price shifts. The International Energy Agency has observed that

that is worth about €4 per week. Think about that: €4 per week in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. I have said that the budget could be summed up in five words: "Gone before you get it". That is exactly what has happened. Whether … been eaten up by the cost of living, renters left handing over more and more of their pay cheques in rent, people on fuel allowance actually getting less this winter than they got last winter, the tiny reduction in the cost of home heating oil that was already

country, we are monitoring the humanitarian situation in Cuba. I very much echo the UN Secretary General's concern at the growing humanitarian crisis in the country. Our position on the embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba is long-standing and clear. We have consistently voted … ending of the embargo, most recently last October at the UN General Assembly. Restricting the flow of basic goods, and particularly fuel, to Cuba heightens the suffering of ordinary Cubans. The Deputy's colleague discussed this last night. Due to the lack of fuel

that we are as enraged as the constituents we represent at this Government's continued failure to deal with the cost-of-living crisis that is reaching is every single life in this country. I am going to read to the Minister something from my inbox this week … from one wage to the next with little financial security. As a single mother, I do not qualify for support such as the fuel allowance or back to school schemes due to strict means testing criteria that do not reflect the true cost of living after tax. People

commenced. It was already crushing people and producing arrears, hardship and suffering. We can add to that the exorbitant rents and accommodation crisis leading young people to leave this country because they cannot afford to live here. Trump's war makes it even worse, and the Government throws … will make almost no difference. Compare what the Government has given in its total package with the headline "Irish tax relief on jet fuel for airlines operating here to hit €1bn this year". That was last November. A few commercial airlines get an exemption on excise

careful not to repeat them. Let us look at the position we have today. Ireland is massively over-dependent on expensive imported fossil fuels leading to some of the highest energy prices in the EU. I do not think anyone will disagree with that. Ordinary workers and families … four short years. There are now 300,000 households that cannot afford to heat their homes or turn the lights on. The crisis will only deepen further following the impact of another round of energy price hikes combined with the cruel decision to withdraw and rip away

ruled out energy credits which will cause energy and fuel poverty for many households. We need to see an increase in the fuel allowance and household benefits packages to take into account these increases in energy costs. Many working families earn a decent wage but are struggling … need an energy credit for all households in the upcoming budget. This country is still in a cost-of-living crisis and providing an energy credit will go some way at least to alleviating many of these costs for households, and indeed for many businesses out there that

living is too high but the Government is in complete denial about this reality. It seems to believe that the cost-of-living crisis is over and it is ruling out a cost-of-living package while households struggle. It is clear the Government is totally … clinics, I have people coming in to me who are struggling to make ends meet, with high energy costs, rent and childcare and fuel costs, not to mention the student fees that the Government is now determined to increase. People just cannot take it any more. They need

value for money for what we have done. The Irish Times reported on the mistake that was made in the last economic crisis in this country - the lack of putting in infrastructure. If we put in infrastructure, it brings down the price of housing because … brings down the price of travelling across this country. In this country at the moment, however, for every euro people spend on fuel to go to work, they are paying 50 cent in tax on diesel and 43 cent on petrol. People go to work and then they

baseload does not end up dropping. Instead, we are forced to fire up the gas generators - diesel has, which is also a fossil fuel and has cost implications, has been referenced as well - to keep the data centre servers cool. Under the market rules, the gas does … staggering. When a single sector consumes nearly a quarter of our national electricity and ordinary families face a crushing cost-of-living crisis, it beggars belief. I am kind of lost for words in terms of how to put it, but if you ask an ordinary constituent whether

cost-of-doing-business crisis here and the Government is actively pushing up costs. This month the CRU will put another €41 on bills. That is on top of €500 per year on network charges. Electricity bills in this country are the highest on the planet … moment. We are trying to get people to move from fossil fuels to electricity. How is that going to happen if we keep putting up the price of electricity? We are the dearest country in Europe in terms of housing, health and energy. Will the Government commit

arrears with bills. People are going cold and rationing heat and electricity in their own homes because of the wider cost-of-living crisis that existed before the war against Iran. This is the reality the proposals and the measures are not tackling and not facing … over four weeks to bring people up to May but it is not nearly enough. It does not address all those not receiving fuel allowance who are struggling and does not come anywhere near addressing the huge backlogs and arrears that people are in. We need

protect those on the lowest incomes and to protect people in general by providing some supports to reduce the impact of this crisis. The reduction in excise duty does that. It does not address the issue totally, but at least it helps and takes a bit of pressure … does not deal with the scale of the increases in the cost of home heating oil or petrol. The focus on the fuel allowance does help with home heating oil, as does the reduction in the NORA levy. It should be remembered that there is a substantial household

meeting future demand, even in the event of extreme supply disruption. Why do we need this commercial facility? Locking us into new fossil fuel infrastructure when our emissions are still so high will have a further effect. It will see Ireland further overshoot its climate targets so that … bill for the eye-watering fines associated with missing targets. That will be an issue for households in a cost-of-living crisis and there is no guarantee of energy security

Middle East is in turmoil, we are witnessing another spike in the price of fossil fuels, which still power too much of our economy. Our energy system needs to meet three key challenges in the year ahead. It needs to provide affordable energy, which will allow … risk of energy shortages in a turbulent world. We need to decarbonise our energy system to address the climate crisis and improve air quality around our homes. The Green Party has always argued that the only way for us to meet these three interconnected challenges

time the fuel allowance is available to those who are also working. That means that 50,000 extra people now qualify for the fuel allowance payment. We also ensured that it was backdated to 1 January so that the 50,000 or so families with children would receive … March for January and February and were now getting the payment up to the end of this week to assist with the energy crisis at the moment. We are going to look at the experience of the pay-related jobseeker's benefit's first year

goods for. At the same time, however, there is only so much they can take before the Government could be faced with that crisis. While this financial resolution alleviates it and I will support it, I will certainly have serious concerns going forward if there is not more … people who have the green diesel, namely, the farmer and the fisherman. It is a drop of only 3 cent on their fuel. Had the Government any thought on how they will survive? Had it any thought on how they will deliver their produce at the rate

have had a positive impact. Inflation is around 0.6% lower than it would have been had we not acted. Our approach during this crisis has always been to remain flexible. When dealing with a situation that is changing almost daily, Government intervention needs to stand ready to extend … energy transition. The tax was due to raise around €1.3 billion this year and assist with measures such as residential retrofitting, fuel poverty interventions, and agri-environmental schemes. We are committed to using this tool to speed up the energy transition. However, the extraordinary circumstances we find ourselves

fuel. We all know that. We can have debates about how to make that transition but our country is still addicted to fossil fuel. The impact of that on consumers and citizens in the Deputy's constituency and mine every time somebody makes a decision thousands of kilometres … more. It has happened not once, but twice in the last five years and plunged us into challenges like the cost-of-living crisis and real difficulties for people. We all accept that point and are not rowing on that point or debating it. What the Deputy

near that. Let us be very clear and straight about that. I think our last windfall tax, which was introduced during the Ukrainian crisis, might have brought in €200 million or more. I can get the precise figure for Deputy O'Callaghan. That is not without implications across … diesel and petrol were proportionally better for lower income groups in our society. Add to that the changes we made to the fuel allowance and the child support payments, which were record increases, in the last budget. Furthermore, there was the expansion of the free fuel allowance

impact of that change in policy. Now in the climate Department, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, is implementing policies that clearly favour filthy fuels over clean energy infrastructure. When asked about it, Fianna Fáil talks up the energy security element but where is the wisdom or security … supposed to have finished the transition to renewable energy? Meanwhile, sea levels and household energy bills are rising as the cost-of-living crisis deepens, and the profits of big energy companies are also rising. We are watching the impacts of climate change in the world around

cent reduction on home heating oil. As I have said and others have said, it is simply not enough in the current crisis. I know it is a geopolitical issue, but geopolitics hits people very hard, especially the most vulnerable. We had calls earlier in the year … additional costs. Imagine how they are faring right now with this. The excise duty cuts are not going to make up for the fuel price increases. The most vulnerable in our society are going to be affected by it. We need to do more. In that context

Minister for foreign affairs and as the Government has committed to do in our programme for Government. In relation to the overall crisis and the scenario that many people find themselves in, we all want to do everything we can to ensure we reduce the cost price … energy more affordable in the long term. We all know that a number of different factors have impacted on the cost of energy, fuel and electricity, not least the conflict in the Middle East and the escalating conflict in Iran in recent weeks. This

what was said earlier, which was that an insufficient offering is on the table in relation to the reduction in the cost of fuel. This needs to be addressed. I get that the Government cannot do everything, but I am saying that there needs to be further action … because people are under severe pressure. That is before we talk about the cost-of-disability issues and the wider cost-of-living crisis