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reason we are experiencing an energy price crisis in our country is because of Ireland's over-reliance on fossil fuels. Until the Government takes decisions that will break that over-reliance, our economy and our people will continue to be vulnerable. The war in Iran has shown … huge package of over €500 million to address the fuel price spike being experienced right now. The Green Party believes that Government needs to take similar big, bold steps to ensure that this is the last energy crisis that Ireland ever experiences. Let the response to this crisis

those four weeks, our socialist colleague in Spain, Pedro Sanchez, cut VAT on fuels from 21% to 10% and Poland cut VAT on fuels from 23% to 8%. The EU has expressed concern about these VAT cuts but the Commissioner has also advised governments to reduce excise instead … Government that should have been explored outside of reducing the carbon tax. Reducing the VAT rate on fuels on a temporary basis must be on the table if this crisis continues to escalate. On balance, we will support the reductions to excise but other options were available

year. The measures announced in March provided nothing for households relying on home heating oil that were not in receipt of the fuel allowance. That is exactly why we are bringing forward the motion today. Our proposals are straightforward. They include a targeted €400 energy credit for households … their cars to provide the service that we ask of them. These are necessary responses to an immediate crisis but they are not sufficient on their own. Fossil fuel energy appears cheap up front but when you are buying gas and oil forever, you have no control over

move that: That Dáil Éireann: recognises that: — unsustainably high energy and fuel prices in this state further compounded a pre-existing cost of living crisis; — the duty of the Government is to protect people from severe energy shocks to the greatest extent possible; and — the Government … There is no reliable public transport network and there is no option but to pay. Right now, that cost is crushing people. Fuel prices have surged and families are watching the cost of filling the tank as it spirals week after week. For those relying on home heating

crisis and the health crisis. The second is that the Government is tied to the idea of the market. It cannot use the massive financial resources that we have to protect people because that would mean interfering with the market. The fossil fuel market that the Government … empower the CRU to ensure profiteering is not taking place with people taking advantage of this crisis as they took advantage of the previous one. The second is to adjust fuel taxes accordingly to ensure that fuel can continue to be supplied. That is the answer and that

biggest players in the market and is profiteering to the tune of €706 million in the jaws of a cost-of-living crisis. There are 300,000 people currently in energy arrears. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has said it dealt with a quarter … heating oil and gas on families. In 2024, the Government took €4.1 billion in fuel taxes, the highest ever in the jaws of a cost-of-living crisis. The cost of filling a car is currently €19 more today than it was five years ago. That

hEorpa go háirithe. I agree with the Deputy. We need to accelerate the changes we are bringing in given the existing crisis. Ireland has been to the forefront of many of the renewable energy generation initiatives. The past ten years have been good. Last year was particularly good … ever there was a reason we need to continue to reduce our dependence on the importation of fossil fuels from other states, it is now. With the Middle East crisis, we do not want to lose sight of the fact - and it know it is not lost

First, working families do not get the fuel allowance. The working families that I am talking about who are in energy crisis at the moment are suffering significantly from this. Second, the war in Iran is a shocking situation, which has had an enormous effect on the price

very worst way of going about that. Irish households are suffering from a cost-of-living crisis that, at its heart, is driven by our country's dependence on fossil fuels. The carbon tax remains the only part of our entire taxation system which is designed to help … cost-of-living crisis and the Green Party will not support any legislation that has the effect of doing this. There are alternative ways in which we can help Irish households this winter and in the future. The Green Party has proposed a fossil fuel inflation fund

living crisis before that. In his earlier comments, the Minister of State failed to acknowledge that disabled people were up to €1,400 worse off as a result of the budget. This was before any recent increases in home heating oil or any other fuel costs. The Minister … they are better able to meet future energy shocks and cope with this existing cost-of-living crisis, and we as a country are less exposed to energy shocks and fuel price increases. We are one of the most exposed countries in Europe when it comes to this

such volatility. I would also like him to ensure we talk about more than just fuel over the coming weeks and months. There is a cost-of-living crisis. We need to support families, workers, farmers, businesses and hauliers when it comes to childcare, the back-to-school

need to understand why we have to take so much tax out of every €10 worth of fuel. This is a problem that is contributing to the cost-of-living crisis. Let us look at the increase that people living alone or old age pensioners are receiving

Middle East has once again exposed the vulnerability of the Irish economy to imported fossil fuels. According to the International Energy Agency, IEA, we now face a global energy crisis greater than the 1970s oil crisis and the Ukraine war combined. Like the rest of the world, energy … package of supports worth €750 million, among the largest package of any EU member state. Longer term, our strategic dependency on fossil fuels has major macroeconomic and fiscal implications. The evidence from across Europe is clear. Moving towards domestic sources of renewable energy increases our energy security, boosts

January. We are discouraging people from using public transport and prolonging our reliance on expensive and volatile fossil fuels in the middle of a cost-of-living and climate crisis. The active travel budget of €360 million has not changed since 2020, meaning this amounts … risk of energy poverty, transformed active travel around the country and shown that it is actually committed to reducing our exposure to fossil fuel price shocks, but it made a political choice

families are seeing no let-up in the cost-of-living crisis. Ireland is one of the most expensive places to run a car, with recent analysis showing that we have the third highest motor fuel costs in the EU. Couple this with rip-off car insurance costs … their policies. Budget 2026 was a clear example of how the Government had failed to support families during this cost-of-living crisis. In that budget, the Government decided to withdraw cost-of-living supports and to continue to increase the carbon tax on petrol and diesel

cover this. I would be cautious of a moratorium. We are in the middle of an energy crisis at the moment, brought on by our dependence on fossil fuels

have raised this for months. The Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, must know the scale of the crisis for inshore fishermen all around the coast in terms of fuel, baits and the instability of market prices. The Minister is reading the responses written by Department officials

exceptional nature of the cost-of-living crisis being experienced by people all over our country. This crisis is driven by the increase in the cost of fossil fuels. Yet, in the measures being voted on today, there is not one proposal that will give long-term protection

supported the measures brought forward by Government because those people needed relief. I voted for that package. Fuel is only one part of the cost-of-living crisis, however. There are thousands of people who will never organise a protest. There are families quietly struggling behind the front

times. While they are primarily about the failure of the Government to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, they are being exacerbated by its climate policies: overdependence on fossil fuels, failure to provide adequate green transport infrastructure or public transport infrastructure, and just not listening to communities. Aidan … wealthy corporations and individuals, provides a just green transition for workers and families and restores proper democracy. That is the solution to this crisis

into incremental increase year-on-year, multiple times per year, driving the cost of fuel irrespective of the cost of a barrel, irrespective of the cost of inflation and irrespective of the crisis that is happening in this country. That is why we are here today. The Government

moving safely and affordably across the country. When haulage costs rise, we all pay the price. Hauliers face extreme cost pressures with volatile fuel costs and rising insurance premiums. They are also struggling with the increasing general cost of living alongside the rest of the country. The Government … difference in people’s homes. Along with highlighting our energy insecurity, this crisis has highlighted growing vulnerability regarding our food security. Our agriculture sector is deeply exposed to global markets, particularly for fertiliser, fuel and animal feed. We saw this following the invasion of Ukraine, when fertiliser prices

supports designed to ease pressure and to provide some certainty in very uncertain times. The crisis also reminds us of something deeper. Ireland and the European Union remain exposed to fossil fuel price shocks. As long as we rely on imported fossil fuels, events far away, far beyond

meet our climate targets. The Government may claim there is not a cost-of-living crisis anymore but families know differently. Every week, people are paying more for groceries, more for fuel, more for rent and more for energy. Household budgets are stretched to breaking point. Many people

they wanted was dialogue, but the Government threatened ordinary citizens with the Army. Yes, the protests were about fuel and the Government's mismanagement of the cost-of-living crisis, but the cost-of-living crisis is only the tip of the iceberg. When the cost of living