There will be no interruption to the supply of petrol, diesel, gas, electricity and home heating oil to consumers or emergency vehicles throughout the Covid-19 delay period and beyond.

The Norwegian government has awarded 28 oil and gas companies a total of 69 offshore blocks to explore for petroleum in mature areas of its continental shelf, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate said.

The majority of Irish-focused oil and gas companies are still planning to invest in their operations here despite the Government’s intention to phase out oil exploration, more details of which are expected to be released in the near future.

Irish consumers who failed to switch gas or electricity suppliers over the last four years have paid almost €1,700 more than necessary, according to the energy regulator.

The annual report of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) reveals that only a quarter of customers either switched providers or negotiated better deals with their existing provider in 2018.

Former Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten is calling on the Government to “pause” the approval of gas and oil exploration licences.

Royal Dutch Shell reported a small drop in first quarter profit to $5.4bn (€4.8bn), but still easily beat forecasts, helped by stronger trading and liquefied natural gas earnings.

One million people are due to see their energy bills go up from today.

The Government has been urged, by a gas exploration company active in Irish waters, to clarify its long-term position on offshore drilling or risk losing inward investment.

Despite being passed - as a private members' motion - to committee stage last year, the bill has ended up in procedural limbo with the environment committee repeatedly failing to vote on progressing it to the Dáil.

Some electricity and gas customers faced as many as three price hikes in the first nine months of last year, according to a new report by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU).

All Irish customers will be affected "sooner or later" by the raft of energy price hikes that are still in "full swing", a consumer comparison website has warned.

A woman escaped serious harm after she was rescued from a gas-filled house in Co Clare last night.

30% of gas customers and 31% of electricity customers feel they don’t have the best deal for their energy.

Cattle slurry is to be turned into enough gas to power 56,000 homes as part of multimillion euro project in Mitchelstown, Co Cork.

The review also shows electricity prices have increased by 3% on a month-on-month basis.

Two-thirds of Irish consumers say they are likely to switch away from a service or utility provider in the next 12 months.