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towards renewables but the Tánaiste knows for today, tomorrow and far into the future, tractors, lorries and hi-macs will need fossil fuel to keep the country going. Since I came into the Dáil, I have been calling for the exploration of the Barryroe oil field. Minor checks … licence to do exploratory drilling. This was refused by the then Minister, Eamon Ryan. Now that we are in a time of crisis, will the Government meet with the company and hear its proposals? I am not asking the Tánaiste to say yes to drilling - just to meet

ongoing war in Iran is having real and serious consequences for households and businesses across the country and the pressures of energy costs, fuel costs and supply chains are being felt everywhere. It would be wrong to pretend otherwise. I welcome the Government's €750 million support package … coming. However, we have to be honest. The months ahead will be difficult and challenging. There are no easy solutions to a crisis of this scale, and people deserve straight talk rather than false reassurance. I also want to say something about the protests we have seen

Deputy’s assessment is not correct in the sense that he ignored the extension of the fuel allowance for four weeks, which will help about 470,000 people to deal with the rise in the price of home heating oil. There is no doubt that there is huge … bombing of gas and oil installations in Iran and in the Gulf states. That is the fundamental cause of the current crisis. It still has not reached the levels that we reached at the time of the Russian invasion of Ukraine when we also had an oil price

qualify for the fuel allowance. In addition, people moving from disability allowance or the blind pension to take up work will retain their fuel allowance for five years. The budget also included an extension of the 9% VAT rate that applies to gas and electricity. The wide array … energy shock arising from the conflict in the Middle East. This structure will ensure a co-ordinated and coherent response to the energy crisis that is aligned with the programme for Government commitments and longer term action on energy affordability. The report of the task force, which included

fathers who are running their households and trying to pay for extremely dear commutes. He is responsible to the elderly, who are rationing fuel because of their inability to pay for more. He is responsible to the small business owners who have invested blood, sweat and tears … those in the political class who are paid a big salary to represent them. We are in the jaws of a housing crisis, yet €50,000 in VAT is charged on every single home being built in this country. That charge makes it unaffordable for most people

Some of the statistics are quite shocking. The programme for Government has a commitment to use surplus renewable energy to help those in fuel energy poverty. Renewable energy wastage came to 2,137 GWh. Approximate retail value of the wasted energy was €756 million. That is an astonishing … used at a particular time that day, and people who are in energy poverty. When we talk about the cost-of-living crisis that we have at the moment, there are something like 320,000 people currently in energy poverty or energy debt. They are a number

toll increase, in the words of the IRHA, was the straw that broke the camel's back. An increase in carbon taxes on fuel eats into the narrow profit margins for haulage companies and makes routes increasingly unviable. The hauliers who bring food to our supermarkets and deliver … Once again, it is the people who can least afford it who are paying for Government inaction. We saw the consequences of this crisis with the collapse of Fastway Couriers last month. Hundreds of workers, contractors and franchisees are left in limbo, some owed weeks

this budget was whether it puts workers and families first, protects pensioners from rising prices, and responds to the cost-of-living crisis people are living with right now. On tax, it fails the test. On pensions, it fails the test. On the cost of living, it fails … such a missed opportunity. Nowhere can this be summed up better than when we look at the spiralling costs of energy, including fuel. We are heading into the winter and hundreds of thousands of households are already struggling to keep the lights and heat on. More than

system. At the same time, targeted solutions are needed to protect our citizens and businesses from the recent and very significant spike in fuel prices. Leaders invited the Commission to present a set of temporary and targeted measures, taking into account the differing situations of member states … retain the flexibility to introduce specific, temporary and targeted emergency measures to support the most affected sectors of our economy during this crisis. On industrial renewal and innovation, it is clear that the current geopolitical environment requires a new focus on strategically important investments in the technologies

energy transition is not happening, is it? A total of 80% of our energy comes from fossil fuels. It is not because ordinary people are not making efforts to make changes in their lives, put on solar panels and retrofit their houses and so on. The central reason … climate. It is causing ordinary people's bills to go higher and higher. It is adding to the cost-of-living crisis. This year, people's electricity bills will 10% higher than they were last year. Almost 300,000 people are in arrears on their electricity bills

exploration. It made us reliant on the international markets and now it is blaming those international markets for the cost of fuel even though it was the Government's policy to begin with. We should be focusing on incentivising small-scale renewable energy generation like solar and biodigestion … Government does not know what the other arm is doing. The Government's policy is totally wrong. It has created this crisis and now it is complaining that the people are raising concerns. It is time that the policy of high energy costs is reviewed

what the ESRI has said in relation to the most important deciles to benefit from budget 2026, there is an extension of the fuel allowance, which now covers 470,000 households. Many of the benefits of this were being operationalised in recent weeks. On 12 March … most vulnerable in society. In my view, the Government's first port of call is to ensure that, in a time of crisis, when we hit a significant shock in the economy, we first protect the most vulnerable in society. This is backed up by the ESRI

passed without beeping to show its support. I urge the Minister not to make the same mistake the Government made with the fuel protests when it tried to conquer and split the crowd and called them all sorts of names. That is what he is doing here … salary she is on, she will never be able to afford a home. That is what is driving much of this crisis and these strikes. The Minister has completely failed to address the escalating prices in the economy and, as a result, workers are right to demand that

Presidency is an opportune time to advance structured discussions on preparing for a united Ireland within the EU. Second, the cost-of-living crisis demands an EU-wide response centred on energy and food affordability and security. Finally, this Presidency should be in support of peace and international … closed as they cannot function without electricity. Food produced in the countryside is rotting in the ground because farmers do not have fuel to deliver it to the towns and cities. The urban people are suffering food deprivation. Hospitals cannot function due to lack of electricity either

that was put on the agenda two weeks ago but will have an even sharper focus now because of the impact of this crisis on the energy market more generally. We will keep any further measures under review. It is important that the Government's focus has been … carbon tax but we will not pull the rug from under farmers, those who are retrofitting and those who depend on the free fuel allowance

Ireland has walked blindfolded into an energy crisis, not by accident or misfortune but because consecutive Governments chose to leave our country exposed and dependent on others for the most basic lifeline we have – energy. The price of those choices is now hammering every single household and business … warnings saying it is fine. Well, it is not fine. The people of Ireland are paying dearly for that Government arrogance. Fuel prices have jumped again and again in recent weeks. Hauliers are warning they cannot keep the wheels turning. Farmers, tradesmen, fishermen, home help, carers, school

from these pressures. There are already very significant responses in place. We have strengthened supports for people on lower incomes, including through the fuel allowance. We have invested substantially in energy efficiency and retrofitting. These measures are very important because we should not simply be dealing with high … household bills. The Government has already introduced a package of measures around taxation, energy costs, income supports and the cost-of-living crisis. Government has also looked at the evidence by insuring that whatever measures are introduced are targeted towards those experiencing the greatest pressures. For people

that the Taoiseach did not foresee, predict or avoid it calls into question his competence. The Government talks about the cost-of-living crisis as if it suddenly emerged six weeks ago when Trump invaded Iran. There seems to be no understanding of the level of stress … That is why people were on the streets last week. Everybody understands that the Government does not control international oil prices but these fuel price shocks were a tipping point for so many people. The package of measures the Government brought forward will be of very little comfort

will help that cohort. That is a measure we took in the budget to include them for the first time in the free fuel allowance. The additional needs payment is also available for anyone in particular difficulty. The Minister for Social Protection has made it clear to community … this in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and what happened there, although there was a longer lead-in during that crisis. Price increases came a bit later in the cycle. The Minister has asked the CRU to carry out an independent review of that

blind bit of difference to the 317,000 families that cannot pay their electricity bills now? The Tánaiste is talking about extending the fuel allowance. That ends today. He is talking about stuff that has already happened. They still cannot pay their electricity bills. That is the problem … energy credits that it withdrew from those families in last year's budget. It made a massive mistake and has plunged families into crisis - 317,000 families. Just picture that. How many children and adults

They abandoned them. I put it to the Tánaiste directly, what does he say to people, the majority of whom do not get fuel allowance? What does he say to that woman who was talking to me, who is sitting in her home and cannot … have proposed, to cut excise duty to the maximum amount on home heating oil and give people real support at this time of crisis. That is what the Tánaiste should be doing

behalf of Ireland's tillage farmers. It is an essential yet increasingly vulnerable part of our agricultural landscape. The tillage sector is in crisis. For the third consecutive year, farmers are facing financial losses. Despite their resilience and commitment to sustainable practices the economic reality is stark … alone following increases of 20% in 2022 and 9% in 2023. Machinery costs account for 25% or 30% of total growing costs, while fuel and seed prices remain volatile. Despite these challenges, Teagasc forecasts a 40% increase in tillage incomes in 2025, bringing the average

restoration of international law. We will soon introduce legislation under the occupied territories Bill reflecting our obligations under international law. This crisis has been further complicated by the escalating tension and war between Israel and Iran. I fully support the Government's view, and that … Iran is on the brink of developing a nuclear weapon, yet that threat has never materialised. We must be cautious of rhetoric that fuels endless war. It would be deeply regrettable if the Israeli Prime Minister's motive in prolonging hostilities in Gaza and Iran was contrived

particular benefit in reducing the price of diesel and petrol compared to what it would have been and do things like extending the fuel allowance period and putting in place a diesel rebate scheme for hauliers and a package for farmers, but that it will also have … that the Deputy will, quite rightly, have many ideas on what we should do to help people through a winter challenge. An energy crisis in the winter is even more challenging than one in the summer. This is a balance. I think the step-by-step approach

done, 1.5 million workers are now worse off. There is no help coming in relation to food. There is nothing in relation to fuel other than what has already been done. On energy and rent, it is all too minimal. What are we looking at? We are talking … intervention because it is absolutely necessary. Many people, from every party, come in here and talk about the cost-of-living crisis, saying that supports are required. We are seeing it again. We all know the housing crisis is the greatest crisis facing a number of people, including