Government urged to reverse 'terrible decision' to withdraw energy credits in budget
Pearse Doherty told Tánaiste Simon Harris that "the cost of everything is sky high", citing energy prices, student fees, and petrol prices. Picture: Stuart Boulton/Stock
The Government has been accused of "acting like everything is rosy" while people are being "hammered" with high costs.
Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty made the charge during Thursday's leaders' questions session in the Dáil. He told Tánaiste Simon Harris "the cost of everything is sky high", citing energy prices, student fees, and petrol prices.
Mr Doherty particularly called on the Government to intervene on energy prices.
"There is no end to it. People cannot catch a breath at the moment," Mr Doherty said.
"As if things were not bad enough, the big energy companies come along with another big hike in electricity prices just as we head into the darker months of the year.
"Energia is going to jack up its electricity prices by 12%. Bord Gáis will increase its prices by over 13%. Pinergy is putting up its prices by over 9%.
"As we know, households are already paying some of the highest electricity prices in Europe. More than 500,000 customers are going to be hit by these latest increases in the next couple of weeks," he added.
Mr Doherty said many are now going to be forced to fork out hundreds of additional euro, which is money they do not have.
"The real kicker is that the Government is choosing to make matters worse. At the very time these companies are fleecing people again, the Government has decided to withdraw energy credits in the budget. It is a terrible decision that the Government needs to reverse."
In response, Mr Harris said Sinn Féin had had a "bonkers idea" to keep energy prices down by "giving taxpayers' money to energy companies" .
He said that his Government "is taking action", pointing to a taskforce established by energy minister Darragh O'Brien.
"The fuel allowance will be kicking off on Monday for more people than ever before. That will make a real difference to the deputy’s constituents and mine, with more benefitting in his county and mine than ever before," Mr Harris added.
"I am also telling him about other practical measures we have taken in the here and now, including reducing the rate of Vat on people’s energy bills. That was a practical measure. It was a costly measure, but the right thing to do.
"We have got to take measures that are sustainable and permanent. We are moving away from one-off measures to permanent, sustainable ones."
