Search the record

Families have been left in shock by the steep rise in their fuel costs. These families are already under enormous pressure. We know 320,000 households across the State are in arrears on their energy bills under the Minister’s watch. This comes after the Government slashed cost … left €1,400 worse off. It was really shameful and the price increases since this war began have turned a cost-of-living crisis into a cost-of-living emergency. Where has the Government been? It has been missing in action for the past two weeks. Throughout that

know the issues that exist at the minute in relation to the cost-of-living crisis. The Government's budget did not have any solutions for those who are suffering at this time, whether we are talking about the issues of insurance, rent or the cost of housing … many people. If we are talking about roads, we know the addition of carbon taxes means we will have really significant fuel costs. The idea of carbon tax was to dissuade people. We all know a number of things have changed since, including post Covid and the cruel

government at the moment. We spent €1 billion effectively chasing the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil in terms of fuel subsidies, something that is not even really working and that we are not going to be able to sustain indefinitely. We have climate, cost … Government needs to plug the gap somewhere. We know we are far too car dependent. We know that given the climate crisis we are all living through, even if some of us might be in denial about it, we need to get more people onto public transport. Through

lifting the Dublin Airport cap and all those measures that the Government is taking are going to lead to increased use of fossil fuels. How is the Government going to square that circle? How is the Government going to continue to grow the economy, which we all want … expressed her reservations about the massive amount of water that was going through data centres. She is trying to avoid a water crisis. Communities in the US, including in Pennsylvania and other places, are rising up against huge data centres being built there. Paschal Donohoe, our former finance

same time, we have to adopt a long-term approach which means that we are not just going from crisis to crisis. I will talk more about that. The Minister referred to moving towards domestic sources of renewable energy to increase our energy security, boost competitiveness and reduce … households and businesses in Europe. Not only that, our country is one of the most reliant in the EU on imported fossil fuels. We are incredibly exposed to what is happening in the Middle East at present and to any future shocks

public transport fares by an average of 15% have come as a hammer blow to commuters already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. Fares for some will rise by up to 35%. Certain cohorts of students have been excluded from student fare rates. These changes will disproportionately … Ireland and Europe have reminded us of the need to ensure that we take action to slash carbon emissions, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and encourage public and active travel. The Government has been curiously silent. It has let the NTA take the hit for railroading through these

have a two-month stay of execution for petrol and diesel costs alone. It is completely inadequate when the cost-of-living crisis, driven by Trump's imperialist adventures in the Middle East, is worsening for working people right across the board. What people want and need … investment in a rapid and just transition to a zero-carbon economy to get off of our addiction to and reliance on fossil fuels. The only way to force the Government to act is the threat of protest and protest itself. There will be substantial protest. On Saturday

hardship supports that kept families afloat but if we are serious about long-term affordability, the response must shift from crisis management to structural reform. We must ensure general transparency in the price setting system. Price decisions may technically be commercial matters but when households continue to feel … should allow constituents to do themselves and we would fund it on approval. We need to strengthen protections for vulnerable customers. The increased fuel allowance, expanded eligibility and a moratorium for vulnerable customers are positive steps but too many families just above the thresholds continue to struggle

struggling with food, energy, housing and transport costs while the Government congratulates itself on token increases that barely touch the size of this crisis. Core welfare payments are falling behind inflation once again. There was no increase in child benefit, no credible plan to tackle child poverty … proposed a €25 increase in the domiciliary care allowance, a €450 set of energy credits and a boost of almost €300 to the fuel allowance. We also called for €2.2 billion in additional funding for social protection - double what the Government provided - to lift families out of poverty

People are paying €500 more than they paid last year. The Tánaiste promised no shocks in fuel prices. The Government is pushing up fuel prices with carbon taxes. The Tánaiste promised things over and over again and broke them one after another. The question is simple. Why should … billion budget. How the hell could he do that? It is unbelievable in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, Simon

many people who are really struggling, this budget simply did not come near addressing the scale of the cost-of-living crisis. What the budget said to me was that this is a Government that is utterly out of touch with what ordinary people are going through … Government could have done, such as providing an energy credit of €400 to households with an income below €70,000, postponing all fuel excise increases until March 2027, incorporating easy-install heat pumps into the existing heat pump system grant scheme, increasing the weekly fuel allowance, increasing household

delivering on the commitments in the zero-tolerance strategy to achieve a society in which sexual violence and the toxic attitudes that fuel it are not accepted. Since taking office, the Minister has prioritised legislation in this area, which is really important. The recently published Women … acknowledge the work being done by Women's Aid and by gardaí around the country. While the figures demonstrate the scale of the crisis of domestic and gender-based violence, they also show a growing willingness to recognise and call out abuse. Domestic abuse is a devastating crime

matter I have been pushing with my colleagues. Fourth, and crucially, we must step up all efforts to respond to the exceptional energy crisis facing Europe. Geopolitical instability has laid bare our collective vulnerability, making it an absolute diplomatic and economic necessity that we act. We will prioritise … work to bolster our supply chain resilience. Through all of these actions, we will lead the way in phasing out dependence on fossil fuel imports and securing long-term economic sovereignty for our partners and our people. We have in the past few months alone seen the impact

fuel scheme for farmers, contractors and fishers. Of course, the diesel rebate increased to 12 cent per litre. We expanded the fuel allowance and increased it to €38 per week. We expanded eligibility and brought in those on the working family payment. Now about 470,000 households benefit … true. Clearly, Government has done a lot. The reality is we have a budget in October. We do not know where this crisis is going or, indeed, the more medium-term consequences of it. We need to hold some resources in reserve for the winter period

respect of the living alone allowance, the lump sum of €200 was cut. That is another €200 gone. The fuel allowance was reduced for disabled people, resulting in a net loss of €160. The October double payment of €254 was cut. The electricity credits of €250 were … nominal terms as opposed to real terms. In real terms, namely in the context of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, it is even worse. We know that the cost of having a disability in this country back in 2021 was over €10,000. Today

assessment of geopolitical risks, renewable deployment, battery storage and demand reduction before the Bill proceeds, and that was before this crisis escalated. The need for that assessment is now an absolute necessity. I ask that the energy security review be updated to reflect what is happening … about what is possible and what we are able to achieve in Ireland without an LNG facility. It needs to look at alternative fuels and at battery storage and at what we could do in that instance. Instead of pouring €1 billion into an LNG terminal

Opposition, it does not listen to its own backbenchers and, most importantly, it does not listen to the people. The cost-of-living crisis did not suddenly emerge six weeks ago when Trump attacked Iran but it has been growing and growing for years. This Government … relentless and it is draining. The cost of groceries, energy and housing have all skyrocketed with no end in sight. For many the fuel increases were a tipping point and these protests were a way to express that. I want to be clear that the Social Democrats

pressures of increased costs. There were very significant increases in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the oil and energy crisis that arose from that. We decided in the budget to invest in services, which is important in terms of education, health and so forth … acknowledge that. Those are not my figures; they are ESRI figures in respect of that reality. We did it in terms of the fuel allowance. We increased it but we also increased the coverage of it, in other words, 26% of people will now avail of the fuel

bills has been reduced to 9 per cent VAT until 2030; — enhanced social protection payments have been introduced, including an increase to the fuel allowance rate and an expansion of the eligibility rules, which applies to about a quarter of Irish households; and — the NEAT continues to work … decarbonisation and digitalisation in a sustainable and affordable manner; — the Government is committed to delivering on Ireland's responsibility to address the climate crisis, and work remains ongoing right across Government to implement climate mitigation measures every single day of the week; — the priority is driving implementation, particularly

Heydon, to detail the exact date of the payments. In relation to the people who have been working with the first scheme on fuel, it has been successful in terms of those who have got paid. Critically, we need to see the additional money being used … considering that costs have been driven up. Europe is looking right now at negotiations of CBAM. When there are very significant points of crisis like those we have now in supply chains we need to ensure we have exceptional circumstances that we can bring to bear

commitment yet to the extra four weeks again next year. There will be an extension of the cuts to excise on motor fuels and, as the Tánaiste has said time and again, something will be done to reduce the price of home heating oil. These measures will barely … more. The price of diesel and kerosene will rise further and it is oil and energy companies that are profiting massively off the crisis caused by Trump. Why is the Government not taking a comprehensive approach to energy affordability? The impact of higher oil prices is already feeding

week, an increase of more than 15%. This will provide an additional €140 to more than 460,000 recipients during the annual fuel allowance season. That payment has been extended and expanded to include those in receipt of the working family payment. Targeting our resources at those most … households in energy poverty. In 2024, this facilitated nearly 8,000 energy upgrades in low-income households. During the height of the energy crisis, we did, as the Deputy mentioned, provide energy credits but, to maintain sustainable public finances, it makes sense to target resources at those

Social Protection can also provide support through the additional needs payment to help households meet expenses, including those who face difficulty with fuel bills. The national energy affordability task force, which the Minister chairs, will have a key role in identifying measures to enhance energy affordability. This cross … such proposals are brought forward, as outlined by Deputy Whitmore. It continues to be the Government's view that tackling the energy crisis in a co-ordinated way among EU member states is preferable, given the interconnectedness of the EU energy markets. Governments across Europe are rightly attentive

technologies into our energy poverty retrofit programmes; — in the long run, the best way to protect Ireland from the impact of international fossil fuel prices is to reduce our dependence on them; — Ireland is undergoing a renewables-led energy transformation, electricity generation from renewables has increased fivefold since … That is not the case. People and families are struggling, unquestionably, and not just in Ireland. It has been recognised as a global crisis. I would like to address some of the specific items raised in the motion. I recognise it as a genuine attempt to feed into

that was supposed to be for workers, but it was not. It was a sprinkle in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. Middle- and low-income households got crumbs, according to Social Justice Ireland's analysis, and workers on €30,000 or below actually lost money … cost of living. This is because of the cost of essential outgoings such as rent, mortgages, insurance, electricity, gas, oil, transport and motor fuel. Today, the day after the strike, what did we learn? Niall Gleeson, CEO of Uisce Éireann, gets a pay rise