Taoiseach to tell energy companies recent price reductions 'not enough'

The Taoiseah was speaking after a bilateral meeting with Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenković.

The Taoiseach is to meet with four major energy companies on Tuesday afternoon to send a “very clear message” on further price reductions, saying he will be putting them under “pressure”.

Although he said he did not want to pre-empt the meeting, Leo Varadkar said the message is “very clear” that while recent price reduction announcements have been welcomed, they are “not enough”.

Companies including Airtricity, Electric Ireland, and Energia have all announced cuts to prices in recent weeks. 

“I want to see further price reductions announced in the next few months and there will be help in the budget for householders with energy costs using the proceeds from windfall tax,” he said.

Mr Varadkar said the meeting will involve discussions on a hardship fund, in addition to making sure there are arrangements in place around disconnections for vulnerable customers in the lead-up to winter.

He said many householders are “really struggling with increased bills”. 

“They’ve announced a reduction in prices of between 10% and 20%, I don’t think that’s enough, I’ll be putting pressure on to bring prices down further over the winter,” he said.

He reiterated that the windfall tax on the “very high profits” will be used to help reduce household bills.

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He said although there will not be an issue with the security of supply, having built up stores of gas and oil across Europe while also finding alternative sources, “price may well be an issue”.

Speaking after a bilateral meeting with Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenković the Taoiseach said the alleged rape of an Irish citizen in Bordeaux is “shocking”.

Mr Varadkar said he is “fully confident” that French authorities will investigate the incident fully.

“We’re providing assistance through our embassy but also through the gardaí. 

"We have gardaí stationed on the ground in France in anticipation of the Rugby World Cup so that support is being provided,” he said.

CCTV images were being trawled last night as police searched for three men accused of raping the 37-year-old rugby fan who was in the city for the Ireland v Romania game on Saturday.

The woman was near the apartment she was staying in when she was allegedly grabbed by three men, abducted, and dragged to another alley where she was raped around 12am on Sunday night. 

The alleged rapists were described as Caucasian, with one of extremely athletic build.