Energy Regulator approves 25% price increase for Bord Gáis

The average domestic gas bill is set to rise by €200 a year following a decision by the Energy Regulator to allow Bord Gáis a 25% increase from October.

Fine Gael said today that the increase is punitive and could lead to job losses.

Labour's consumer affairs spokesperson Kathleen Lynch blamed a complacent government for this latest hike in the cost-of-living, which is "on top of the increases in electricity, in fuel and in the cost of housing."

"If you combine all of those," she continued, "it (Ireland) is fast becoming the most expensive place in the world to live. And these are all things that are controllable by Government, because as I say, these are not increases that are put in place by the companies themselves."