Social Democrats push for emergency energy subsidy

Separately, co-leader Catherine Murphy has left open the door to doing a deal to go into power with Sinn Féin after the next election

Speaking at the party's pre-term think-in, co-leader Róisín Shortall said: “What we’re talking about is an energy crisis subsidy scheme - an ECSS - which would support workers in a graduated way but would also then have an element which would support businesses. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

An emergency subsidy to help with the cost of spiralling energy bills is being demanded by the Social Democrats along with a €15 increase to the fuel allowance payment.

The Social Democrats party has laid out a number of measures that it wants the Government to introduce as part of a cost-of-living package in the Budget.